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TIM  SEIZED  4N  OAR.    P.  111. 


THE    BOAT    CLUB 


OR 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON 


BY 

OLIVER  OPTIC 


NEW  EDITION,  REVISED  AND  ENLARGED 


NEW  YORK 

THE   MERSHON   COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 

. 


COPYRIGHT,  1896, 
BY  LEE  AND  SHEPAED 


7 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 
I   DON't  WANT  TO   FIGHT 71 

I   DID   NOT   KNOW   IT   WAS   THERE •      •      150 

TIM  SEIZED  AN  OAR 217 

YOU  MUST  COME  WITH  Mfi 2?9 


M150473 


IN    MEMORY     OF 
MY  NEPHEW, 

WILLIAM   PAKKER  JEWETT 
WHO  DIED  JANUARY  4,  1884, 

TO  WHOM 
Cfjts    iSooft 

WAS  ORIGINALLY  DEDICATED 


AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTION 


"THE  BOAT  CLUB"  was  written  and  pub 
lished  more  than  forty  years  ago,  and  was  the 
first  juvenile  book  the  author  had  ever  presented 
to  the  public.  Young  people  who  read  it  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  have  now  reached  threescore, 
and  those  who  read  it  at  ten  have  passed  their 
half -century  of  life.  The  electrotype  plates  from 
which  it  has  been  printed  for  more  than  a  gen 
eration  of  human  life  have  suffered  so  much 
from  severe  wear  that  new  ones  have  become 
necessary,  and  they  must  be  replaced.  This 
condition  affords  the  author  the  opportunity  to 
revise  the  work,  in  fact,  to  make  a  new  book 
of  it;  and  the  old  boat  must  be  reconstructed 
and  launched  again.  The  author  has  something 
to  say  on  what  suggests  itself  as  a  memorial 

5 


6  AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTION 

occasion  when  something  historical  may  be  said. 
First,  it  is  proper  that  old  things  should  be  re 
spected  and  honored,  and  therefore  is  presented 

the  — 

ORIGINAL  PREFACE 

OF  "  THE  BOAT  CLUB." 

THE  author  of  the  following  story  pleads  guilty  of 
being  more  than  half  a  boy  himself ;  and  in  writing  a 
book  to  meet  the  wants  and  the  tastes  of  "  Young  Amer 
ica,"  he  has  had  no  difficulty  in  stepping  back  over  the 
weary  waste  of  years  that  separates  youth  from  maturity, 
and  entering  fully  into  the  spirit  of  the  scenes  he  de 
scribes.  He  has  endeavored  to  combine  healthy  moral 
lessons  with  a  sufficient  amount  of  exciting  interest  to 
render  the  story  attractive  to  the  young;  and  he  hopes 
he  has  not  mingled  these  elements  of  a  good  juvenile 
book  in  disproportionate  quantities. 

Thus  was  laid  the  foundation  of  the  writer's 
life-work  for  young  people,  after  an  initiation  of 
over  twenty  years  as  a  teacher  in  the  schools 
of  Boston,  in  all  grades  from  usher  to  principal. 
Even  then  he  had  not  the  remotest  idea  of  be^ 
coming  an  author;  he  never  definitely  prepared 
himself  for  such  a  profession;  and,  as  he  has 


AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTION  7 

often  stated  it,  he  "blundered  into  the  business 
of  writing  books  for  the  young,"  though  he  had 
had  considerable  experience  in  story- writing  for 
magazines  and  newspapers. 

This  beginning  has  been  followed  by  ninety- 
six  volumes  in  sets  of  six  volumes  or  more,  and 
two  others,  the  whole  of  the  ninety-eight  books 
being  for  young  people.  To  these  may  be 
added  the  number  of  bound  yearly  volumes  of 
magazines  for  juveniles  of  which  the  writer  has 
been  the  editor  for  thirty-two  years,  making 
one  hundred  and  thirty  volumes  of  this  kind, 
besides  half  a  dozen  or  more  for  adults,  to  say 
nothing  of  nine  hundred  stories,  long  and  short, 
for  periodicals.  This  is  the  literary  record  of 
the  author  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age; 
and  being  still  in  fair  physical  condition,  it  is 
possible  that  more  may  be  added  to  the  number. 

This  is  an  introduction  to  the  republication  of 
"The  Boat  Club,"  and  this  book  suggested  what 
has  been  written  so  far.  It  occurs  to  me  that 


8  UTHOR'S  INTRODUCTION 

some  venerable  person  who  read  the  book  in 
childhood  may  have  a  desire  to  know  how  it 
happened  to  be  written,  and  possibly  some  others 
may  wish  to  know  something  of  the  motives 
which  have  animated  the  writer  for  the  long 
term  in  which  he  has  been  engaged  in  produ 
cing  books  for  juvenile  readers.  In  a  speech 
made  by  the  author  in  1875,  at  the  dedication  of 
a  branch  of  the  Boston  Public  Library  in  Dor 
chester,  which  had  become  a  part  of  the  city, 
the  desire  of  the  venerable  personage  and  the 
wishes  of  the  other  inquirers  were  fully  an 
swered  ;  and  perhaps  they  cannot  be  better  sat 
isfied  than  in  reading  a  portion  of  this  address, 
given  after  the  writer  had  been  introduced  by 
the  Mayor  of  Boston :  — 

Though  not  to  the  manner  born,  Mr.  Mayor,  I  have 
resided  in  Dorchester  during  the  greater  portion  of  my 
life;  and  this  church  has  been  my  "religious  home"  for 
more  than  twenty-five  years.  I  confess  that  it  seems  very 
strange  to  me  to  be  introduced  to  an  audience  gathered 
within  these  walls  by  the  Mayor  of  Boston.  In  presenting 


AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTION  9 

me  to  this  large  audience,  you  have  called  me  by  a  name 
by  which,  perhaps,  I  am  better  known  than  by  my  real 
name.  I  am  willing  to  acknowledge  that  I  have  written  a 
great  many  stories  for  young  people.  And  here  I  wish  to 
say  —  what  may  perhaps  surprise  some  of  this  audience  — 
that  I  fully  approve  of  and  indorse  all  that  Mr.  Greenough, 
the  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Library,  has 
said  in  his  very  able  and  instructive  address,  in  regard  to 
a  proper  supervision  of  the  reading  of  the  girls  and  boys. 
It  was  only  the  other  day  that  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
successful  masters  of  the  public  schools  in  this  part  of  the 
city  told  me  that  he  did  not  regard  the  establishment  of 
public  libraries  in  our  towns  and  cities  as  wholly  a  benefit 
and  a  blessing  to  the  communities,  for  the  reason  that 
some  of  them  supply  the  young  with  books  of  doubtful 
tendency.  I  am  glad,  therefore,  to  know  that  the  man 
agement  of  our  public  libraries  and  the  selection  of  the 
books  are  in  the  hands  of  those  who  are  fully  awake  to 
the  responsibilities  of  their  important  positions. 

Mr.  Mayor,  the  mention  by  you  of  the  name  under 
which  I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  writing  suggests  that  I 
may  say  now  what  I  had  on  my  mind,  but  did  not  intend 
to  utter  on  this  occasion.  In  one  of  the  wall  pews  which 
were  on  my  left  before  this  church  was  remodelled,  as  a 
teacher  in  the  Sunday-school  connected  with  this  parish, 
I  had  a  class  of  boys.  It  was  more  than  twenty-five  years 
ago,  and  some  of  those  boys  have  passed  away  from  earth ; 
but  the  others  are  now,  as  men  of  middle  age,  engaged  in 
the  active  duties  of  life.  I  well  remember  how  I  looked 
into  their  faces,  Sunday  after  Sunday,  and  how  I  endeav 


10  AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTION 

ored  to  give  them  the  good  word  that  would  help  them 
along  safely  in  their  career  of  existence.  I  gave  them 
the  best  I  had  to  give,  for  I  was  interested  in  them.  My 
interest  made  me  desire  to  do  more  for  them;  and  I 
thought  I  might  write  a  story  that  would  influence  and 
benefit  them.  I  had  it  in  my  mind  to  print  a  small 
pamphlet  of  sixty  pages,  and  dedicate  it  to  the  boys  of  my 
Sunday-school  class,  putting  all  their  names  upon  the  page. 
The  plot  and  plan  of  the  story  were  clear  in  my  mind ;  and 
the  moral  of  it,  which  was  not  to  be  paraded  in  set  terms, 
was  even  more  clearly  defined  than  the  plot  and  plan. 

Circumstances  prevented  the  carrying  out  of  this  pur 
pose,  and  the  story  was  not  written  at  that  time.  Several 
years  afterwards,  my  publishers,  after  the  issue  of  a  toler 
ably  successful  book  of  mine  for  grown-up  people,  —  for  I 
had  written  a  great  many  stories,  though  none  for  young 
people,  —  asked  me  to  write  a  juvenile  book.  I  assured 
them  I  could  not  do  it;  I  had  never  attempted  anything 
of  the  kind.  The  publishers  insisted,  and  finally  I  prom 
ised  to  see  what  I  could  do.  I  had  but  little  faith  in  my 
ability  in  this  direction ;  but  the  plot  and  plan  of  the  story 
I  had  arranged  for  my  Sunday-school  class  came  back  to 
me,  and  I  went  to  work  upon  it.  The  result  of  my  efforts 
was  "  The  Boat  Club." 

When  I  began  to  write  stories  for  the  young  I  had  a 
distinct  purpose  in  my  mind.  How  well  I  remember  the 
books  I  read,  unknown  to  my  parents,  when  I  was  a  boy  1 
They  were  «  The  Three  Spaniards,"  "  Alonzo  and  Melissa," 
"  The  Mysteries  of  Udolpho,"  "  Rinaldo  Rinaldini,"  "  Free- 
mantle  the  Privateersman,"  and  similar  works,  not  often 


AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTION  11 

found  at  the  present  time  on  the  shelves  of  the  book 
sellers,  though  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  their  places  have 
been  filled  with  books  hardly  less  pernicious.  The  hero 
of  these  stories  was  a  pirate,  a  highwayman,  a  smuggler, 
or  a  bandit.  He  was  painted  in  glowing  colors;  and  in 
admiring  his  boldness,  my  sympathies  were  with  this  out 
cast  and  outlaw.  These  books  were  bad,  very  bad ;  because 
they  brought  the  reader  into  sympathy  with  evil  and 
wicked  men.  It  seemed  to  me  that  stories  just  as  in 
teresting,  just  as  exciting  if  you  please,  could  be  written, 
•without  any  of  the  evil  tendencies  of  these  harmful  books. 
I  have  tried  to  do  this  in  the  stories  I  have  written  for 
young  people.  I  have  never  written  a  story  which  could 
excite  the  love,  admiration,  and  sympathy  of  the  reader 
for  an  evil-minded  person,  a  bad  character.  This  has 
been  my  standard;  and  however  others  may  regard  it, 
I  still  deem  it  a  safe  one.  I  am  willing  to  admit  that 
I  have  sometimes  been  rather  more  "  sensational "  than  I 
now  wish  I  had  been;  but  I  have  never  made  a  hero 
whose  moral  character,  or  whose  lack  of  high  aims  and 
purposes,  could  mislead  the  reader. 

But,  Mr.  Mayor,  I  hope  you  will  pardon  the  egotism 
of  these  remarks ;  for  I  did  not  prepare  myself  to  say 
what  I  have  said,  and  I  was  rather  surprised  into  it  by 
your  mention  of  my  book  name. 


With  the  same  apology  to  my  readers  of  the 
present  day  for  reproducing  this  speech,  and  for 


12  AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTION 

saying  so  much  about  myself,  I  wish  to  allow 
a  young  gentleman  to  state  the  influence  upon 
himself  of  these  books.  He  is  the  son  of  a  dis 
tinguished  literary  man  whose  works  live  after 
him,  and  who  was  for  several  years  United  States 
Consul  at  Glasgow  and  Edinburgh.  I  insert 
here  the  young  man's  letter,  which  I  received 
in  Florence,  Italy,  in  1870. 

BOSTON,  Sept.  9,  1870. 
MR.  ADAMS: 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  heard  some  one  remark  the  other  day, 
that,  however  high  a  man  might  stand  in  the  estimation 
of  his  fellow-men,  there  would  be  times  when  it  would 
be  pleasant  for  him  to  know  that  he  had  been  of  some 
especial  benefit  to  one  or  more  individuals.  The  re 
mark  reminded  me  of  you,  and  of  the  immense  advan 
tage  which  your  writings  had  been  to  me ;  and  I  thought 
that  possibly  it  might  give  you  pleasure  to  know  that 
to  you  —  together  with  a  good  mother's  judicious  man 
agement —  I  owe  all  my  taste  for  reading. 

Until  I  was  about  ten  years  of  age,  I  perfectly  de 
tested  the  idea  of  taking  a  book  into  my  hands.  At  about 
this  time  my  mother  procured  "  Poor  and  Proud,"  which 
she  commenced  reading  to  me ;  and  finding  me  a  good 
deal  interested,  she  contrived  to  stop  reading  at  one  of 


AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTION  13 

the  most  interesting  points  in  the  story,  when,  giving  me 
the  book,  she  said  that  perhaps  I  would  like  to  read 
on  and  see  what  came  next.  And  I  read  on  and  on,  be 
coming  more  and  more  interested  in  the  story,  until  I  had 
finished  the  book.  Seeing  me  interested  in  your  works, 
others  were  procured  for  me  ;  and  in  reading  those  I  often 
met  with  something  which  would  rouse  in  me  a  desire  to 
read  history,  until  at  last  a  taste  for  reading  was  formed, 
which  a  lifetime  will  not  gratify.  Thus  you  see  I  have 
especial  reason  for  gratitude  that  you  should  ever  have 
written  stories  for  boys.  Not  that  I  believe  myself  to  be 
the  only  one,  but  one  of  the  many  who  have  been  bene 
fited  in  the  same  way. 

Hoping  that  you  may  find  your  visit  to  the  Old  World 
both  pleasant  and  profitable,  and  wishing  you  a  safe  re 
turn,  I  remain,  sir, 

Yours  truly, 

G.  FRANK  UNDERWOOD. 
G.  F.  BANK. 

I  have  received  hundreds  of  similar  letters, 
containing  substantially  the  same  testimony.  In 
December  of  the  year  this  letter  came  to  me,  I 
was  confined  to  my  hotel  in  England  by  a  Lon 
don  fog  one  day ;  and  in  the  first  daily  paper 
I  picked  up  in  the  reading-room  I  was  surprised 
to  find  myself  "  written  up "  in  terms  that 


14  AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTION 

made  me  blush;  but  the  article  pleased  me  be 
cause  it  contained  the  same  idea  my  young 
friend  had  embodied  in  his  letter. 

Gratefully  remembering  my  friends  of  over 
forty  years'  standing,  and  with  a  hearty  recogni 
tion  of  those  of  more  recent  years,  I  return  to 
them  all  my  most  sincere  thanks  for  their  gener 
ous  appreciation  of  the  work  of  my  lifetime,  and 
for  their  continued  kindness  to  me  from  the  first 
appearance  of  "  The  Boat  Club  "  to  the  present 
time.  I  heartily  wish  them  all  continued  health, 
prosperity,  and  happiness ;  and  I  do  so  in  the 
sincere  belief  that  I  have  never  morally  harmed 
any  of  my  readers,  but  have  added  pleasure  as 
well  as  moral  and  intellectual  profit  to  their 
lives. 


DORCHESTER,  October  9,  1896 


WILLIAM  T.  ADAMS 

"  OLIVER  OPTIC  " 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY  COMING.    .•••>••  19 

II.    THE  WIDOW  WESTON .  32 

III.  A  DISAPPOINTED  BOY 47 

IV.  THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY 60 

V.    THE  CLUB  BOAT 77 

VI.    THE  EMBARKATION 89 

VII.  GIVE  WAY  TOGETHER 102 

VIII.  THE  SECOND  LESSON 116 

IX.    THE  STOLEN  WALLET 138 

;     X.    TONY'S  CASE 152 

XI.    THE  BOAT-HOUSE 166 

XII.  THE  FIRST  MEETING  IN  ZEPHYR  HALL  ...  180 

XIII.  THE  THUNDERBOLT 194 

XIV.  THE  COLLISION ,    »    .  207 

XV.  CENTRE  ISLAND        •    •    .-    •    «    -    «    •    «    •  221 
15 


16  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XVI.  THE  GEOGRAPHY  OF  WOOD  LAKE  ....  236 

XVII.    OVERBOARD 251 

XVIIL     TIM  BUNKER 268 

XIX.    THE  TRIAL  OF  TONY 280 

XX.    THE  STRANGER 294 

XXI.  THE  CONCLUSION  .  308 


THE  BOAT  CLUB 

OR 

THE    BUNKERS    OF    RIPPLETON 


CHAPTER  I 

THE  FOURTH   OF   JULY  COMING 

"How  much  money  have  you  got,  Frank?" 
asked  Charles  Hardy  of  his  friend  Frank  Sedley. 

"Four  dollars  and  seventy-five  cents." 

"That  is  more  than  twice  as  much  as  I  have. 
Won't  you  have  a  glorious  time  ?  " 

It  was  the  evening  of  the  third  of  July,  ana 
the  two  boys  were  counting  the  money  they  had 
saved  for  Independence.  Captain  Sedley,  the 
father  of  Frank,  had  promised  to  take  him  and 
his  friend  to  Boston  to  attend  the  celebration; 
and  they  had  long  looked  forward  to  the  event 
with  the  liveliest  anticipations  of  pleasure. 

19 


CLUB;    OR, 

"I  don't  know,  Charley,"  replied  Frank  Sedley, 
as  he  slid  the  money  into  his  purse;  "I  was 
thinking  of  something  else." 

"What,  Frank?" 

"I  was  thinking  how  poor  the  widow  Weston 
is,  and  how  much  good  this  money  I  am  going 
to  throw  away  on  fire-crackers  and  gingerbread 
would  do  her." 

"Perhaps  it  would." 

"I  know  it  would." 

"But  you  are  not  going  to  spoil  our  fun  by 
giving  it  to  her,  are  you  ?  " 

"  There  are  a  great  many  boys  who  will  have 
no  money  to  spend  to-morrow  —  Tony  Weston, 
for  instance,"  continued  Frank. 

"  Tony  is  a  good  fellow." 

"That  he  is;  and  his  mother  has  a  terrible 
hard  time  of  it  to  support  herself  and  her  son 
and  daughter." 

"  I  suppose  she  has.  Why  don't  you  ask  your 
father  to  help  her?" 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETOb  21 

"  He  does  help  her.  He  gives  her  wood  and 
flour,  and  a  great  many  other  things  ;  and  my 
mother  employs  her  to  do  sewing.  She  is  wil 
ling  to  work.'* 

"  And  Tony  works  too." 

"  He  is  too  young  to  do  much ;  but  he  loves 
his  mother,  and  tries  to  do  all  he  can  to  lighten 
her  burden." 

"  He  makes  a  dollar  a  week  sometimes." 

"  I  was  thinking  just  now  that  I  would  give 
Mrs.  Weston  the  money  I  had  saved  for  Inde 
pendence." 

"Pooh!   Frank." 

"It  would  do  her  a  great  deal  of  good." 

"  What  is  the  use  of  going  to  Boston,  if  you 
have  no  money?"  asked  Charles,  who  was  not 
a  little  disturbed  by  this  proposed  disbursement 
of  the  Fourth  of  July  funds. 

"I  can  stay  at  home,  then." 

"That  wouldn't  be  fair,  Frank." 

"Why  not?" 


22  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"You  not  only  rob  yourself  of  the  fun,  but 
me  too." 

"  I  really  pity  the  poor  woman  so  much  that 
I  cannot  find  it  in  my  heart  to  spend  the  money 
foolishly,  when  it  will  buy  so  many  comforts  for 
her." 

"Your  father  will  give  you  some  money  for 
her." 

"That  isn't  the  thing." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"You  went  to  meeting  last  Sunday?" 
'"Yes." 

"  And  heard  the  sermon  ?  " 

"Some  of  it,"  replied  Charles,  smiling. 

"You  remember  the  minister  spoke  of  the 
luxury  of  doing  good;  of  the  benefit  one  gets 
by  sacrificing  his  inclination  for  the  good  of 
others,  or  something  like  that;  I  can't  express 
it  as  he  did,  though  I  have  the  idea." 

Frank  paused,  and  looked  earnestly  into  the 
face  of  his  friend,  to  ascertain  whether  he  was 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  23 

likely  to  find  any  sympathy  in  the  heart  of 
Charles. 

"I  do  remember  it,  Frank.  He  told  a  story 
to  illustrate  his  meaning." 

"That  was  it.  I  don't  very  often  mind  much 
about  the  sermon,  but  somehow  I  was  very  much 
interested  in  that  one." 

"And  so  you  mean  to  give  your  money  to 
the  widow  Weston,  just  to  see  how  you  will 
feel  after  it,"  added  Charles  with  a  laugh. 

"No;   that  isn't  it." 

"What  is  it,  then?" 

"I  will  give  it  to  her  because  I  really  feel 
that  she  needs  it  more  than  I  do.  I  feel  a 
pleasure  in  the  thought  of  sacrificing  my  incli 
nation  for  her  happiness,  which  is  more  satis 
factory  than  all  the  fun  I  anticipate  to-morrow." 

"You'll  be  a  parson,  Frank." 

"No,  I  won't;   I  will  do  my  duty." 

"Have  you  made  up  your  mind?" 

"We  can  have  a  good  time  at  home." 


24  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"Pooh!" 

"  I  shall  give  my  money  to  the  widow  Wes- 
ton,  at  any  rate." 

Charles  Hardy  could  not  but  admire  the  gen 
erosity  of  his  friend,  though  he  found  it  diffi 
cult  to  abandon  the  thought  of  the  pleasure  he 
anticipated  in  spending  the  Fourth  in  Boston. 
He  stood  in  silent  thought  a  few  moments,  and 
then  spoke. 

"Well,  Frank,"  said  he,  "if  you  have  deter 
mined  to  give  your  money  to  the  widow,  I 
shall  follow  your  example." 

"But,  Charley,  I  didn't  mean  to  influence 
you.  I  will  even  go  to  Boston  with  you,  though 
I  have  no  money." 

"I  will  give  my  money  to  the  widow.  I 
think  you  are  right." 

"Good,  Charley!     I  like  you  for  it." 

"I  have  two  dollars  and  a  quarter,"  con 
tinued  Charles,  taking  the  money  from  his 
pocket. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  25 

"We  shall  make  up  just  seven  dollars.  How 
it  will  rejoice  the  heart  of  the  poor  woman  !  " 
exclaimed  Frank  with  enthusiasm. 

"So  it  will.  But  don't  you  think  your  father 
will  make  it  up  to  us,  when  he  finds  out  how 
generous  we  have  been  ?  " 

Frank  looked  into  the  face  of  his  companion 
with  an  expression  of  painful  surprise  on  his 
countenance. 

"I  don't  want  him  to  do  so." 

"Why  not?" 

"It  would  rob  the  action  of  all  its  merit.  If 
you  give  your  money  with  the  hope  of  having 
it  restored  to  you,  I  beg  you  not  to  give  it  at 
all.  I  have  abandoned  all  thoughts  of  having 
any  money  to  spend  to-morrow." 

"And  not  go  to  Boston?" 

"No." 

"What  will  your  father  say  when  you  tell 
him  you  are  not  going?  He  will  want  to  know 
the  reason," 


26  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"I  will  tell  him  day  after  to-morrow." 

"He  will  want  to  know  to-morrow." 

"I  can  persuade  him  to  wait.  Shall  we  go 
over  to-night,  and  give  the  money  to  Mrs.  Wes- 
ton?" 

"Yes;    if  you  like." 

"Wait  a  moment,  and  I  will  go  into  the 
house  and  ask  my  father  to  let  me  stay  out  till 
nine  o'clock  this  evening." 

Frank  bounded  lightly  over  the  green  lawn  to 
his  father's  house,  near  which  the  conversation 
took  place. 

Rippleton,  the  scene  of  my  story,  is  a  New 
England  village,  situated  about  ten  miles  from 
Boston.  It  is  one  of  those  thriving  places 
which  have  sprung  into  existence  in  a  moment, 
as  it  were,  under  the  potent  stimulus  of  a  rail 
road  and  a  water  privilege.  Twenty  years  ago 
it  consisted  of  only  one  factory  and  about  a 
dozen  houses.  Now  it  is  a  great,  bustling  vil 
lage,  and  probably  in  a  few  years  will  become 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  27 

a  city.  Trains  of  cars  arrive  and  depart  every 
hour,  as  the  Traveller's  Guide  says ;  and  a 
double  row  of  factories  extends  along  the  sides 
of  the  river.  It  has  its  banks,  its  hotels,  its 
dozen  churches,  and  its  noisy  streets  —  indeed, 
almost  all  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  a 
great  city. 

About  a  mile  from  the  village  was  the 
beautiful  residence  of  Captain  Sedley  —  Frank's 
father.  He  was  a  retired  shipmaster,  in  which 
capacity  he  had  acquired  a  handsome  fortune. 
His  house  was  built  within  a  few  rods  of  Wood 
Lake  —  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  nearly  three 
miles  in  length,  and  a  little  more  than  a  mile 
in  width.  On  the  river,  which  formed  the  out 
let  of  this  lake,  the  village  of  Rippleton  was 
situated;  and  its  clear  waters  turned  the  great 
wheels  of  the  factories. 

Captain  Sedley  had  chosen  this  place  in 
which  to  spend  the  evening  of  his  days,  be 
cause  it  seemed  to  him  the  loveliest  spot  in  all 


28  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

New  England.  The  glassy,  transparent  lake, 
with  its  wood-crowned  shores,  its  picturesque 
rocks,  its  little  green  islands,  indeed,  every 
thing  about  it  was  so  grand  and  beautiful,  that 
it  seemed  more  like  the  creation  of  an  enthu 
siastic  imagination  than  a  substantial  reality. 
The  retired  shipmaster  loved  the  beautiful  in 
nature,  and  his  first  view  of  the  silver  lake 
and  the  surrounding  country  enabled  him  to 
decide  that  this  spot  should  be  his  future  hab 
itation.  He  bought  the  land,  built  him  a  fine 
house,  and  was  as  happy  as  a  mortal  could 
desire  to  be. 

But  I  beg  my  young  reader  not  to  think 
that  Captain  Sedley  was  happy  because  he  lived 
in  such  a  beautiful  place,  and  had  such  a  fine 
house,  and  so  much  money  at  his  command ; 
for  a  beautiful  prospect,  a  costly  dwelling,  and 
plenty  of  money,  alone,  cannot  make  a  person 
contented  and  happy.  The  richest  men  are  often 
the  most  miserable;  a  bed  of  down  may  be  a 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  29 

bed  of  thorns ;    and  a  magnificent  mansion  will 
not  banish  the  gna wings  of  remorse. 

Captain  Sedley  was  a  good  man.  He  had 
always  endeavored  to  be  true  to  his  God  and 
true  to  himself;  to  be  just  and  honest  in  his 
relations  to  his  fellow-men.  In  an  active  busi 
ness  experience  of  twenty  years,  he  had  found 
a  great  many  opportunities  for  doing  good  — 
opportunities  which  he  had  had  the  moral  cour 
age  to  improve.  He  loved  his  God  by  loving 
his  fellow-man.  He  had  made  his  fortune  by 
being  honest  and  just.  He  had  lived  a  good 
life ;  and  as  every  good  man  will,  whether  he 
get  rich  or  poor  by  it,  he  was  receiving  his 
reward  in  the  serene  happiness  of  his  life  in 
this  world,  and  in  the  cherished  hope  of  ever 
lasting  bliss  in  the  world  to  come. 

Captain  Sedley  was  happy,  too,  in  his  family. 
Mrs.  Sedley  was  an  amiable  and  devoted  woman ; 
and  Frank,  his  only  child,  was  an  affectionate 
and  obedient  son.  Perhaps  my  young  friends 


30  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

cannot  fully  appreciate  the  amount  of  satis 
faction  which  a  parent  derives  from  the  good 
character  of  his  child.  Though  the  worthy 
shipmaster  had  a  beautiful  estate  and  plenty  of 
money,  if  his  son  had  been  a  liar,  a  thief,  a 
profane  swearer,  —  in  short,  if  Frank  had  been 
a  bad  boy,  —  he  could  not  have  been  happy. 
If  a  wise  and  good  father  could  choose  between 
having  his  son  a  hopeless  drunkard  or  villain, 
and  laying  his  cold  form  in  the  dark  grave, 
never  more  to  see  him  on  earth,  he  would  no 
doubt  choose  the  latter.  Almost  all  parents  say 
so;  and  their  words  are  so  earnest,  their  tears 
so  eloquent,  that  we  cannot  but  believe  it. 
Such  was  the  father  of  Frank  Sedley,  and  it 
was  such  a  father  that  made  so  good  a  son. 

Charles  Hardy  was  the  son  of  one  of  the  fac 
tory  agents,  who  was  Captain  Sedley's  nearest 
neighbor;  and  a  strong  friendship  had  grown  up 
between  the  two  boys.  Charles's  character  was 
essentially  different  from  that  of  his  friend;  but 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  31 

as  I  prefer  that  my  young  reader  should  judge 
his  disposition  for  himself,  and  distinguish  be 
tween  the  good  and  the  evil  of  his  thoughts 
and  actions  as  the  story  proceeds,  I  shall  not 
now  tell  him  what  kind  of  a  boy  he  was. 


32  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 


CHAPTER  II 

THE   WIDOW   WESTON 

NEAR  the  house  of  Captain  Sedley,  a  sandy 
beach  extended  from  the  road,  on  the  margin 
of  the  lake,  down  to  the  water's  side.  It  was 
here  that  Charles  Hardy  waited  the  return  of 
his  friend.  He  was  thinking  of  the  sacrifice 
they  had  concluded  to  make  for  the  widow 
Weston ;  and  it  must  be  confessed  that  he  felt 
not  a  little  sad  at  the  thought  of  resigning  all 
the  enjoyment  he  anticipated  in  connection  with 
the  excursion  to  the  city  the  following  day. 

On  the  water,  secured  by  a  pole  driven  into 
the  sand,  floated  a  raft,  which  some  of  the  boys 
in  the  neighborhood  had  built,  and  with  which 
they  amused  themselves  in  paddling  about  the 
lake.  It  was  a  rude  structure,  made  by  lashing 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIP  P  LET  ON  33 

together  four  rails  in  the  form  of  a  square,  and 
placing  planks  across  the  upper  side  of  them. 
The  boys  who  had  constructed  it  lived  farther 
down  the  lake  in  the  direction  of  the  village. 
They  did  not  bear  a  very  good  character  in 
the  neighborhood.  If  an  orchard  was  robbed, 
a  henroost  plundered,  or  any  other  mischief 
done  in  the  vicinity,  it  could  generally  be  traced 
to  them.  They  always  played  together,  went 
to  and  came  from  school  together,  planned  acd 
executed  their  mischief  together,  so  that  they 
came  to  be  regarded  as  a  unit  of  roguery,  and 
people  never  saw  one  of  them  without  wonder 
ing  where  the  rest  were. 

The  foremost  of  these  unruly  fellows  was 
Tim  Bunker.  He  was  the  ruling  spirit  of  their 
party,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  notori 
ously  bad  boy.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  lying, 
swearing,  cheating,  and  stealing;  and  people, 
judging  his  followers  by  their  ringleader,  had 
got  into  the  way  of  calling  them  the  Bunkers. 


34  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

Of  course  Captain  Sedley  was  unwilling  that 
his  son  should  associate  with  such  boys  as  the 
Bunkers;  and  so  much  did  Frank  dislike  their 
company  that  it  was  scarcely  necessary  to  cau 
tion  him  to  avoid  them. 

While  Charles  Hardy  was  waiting,  he  walked 
down  to  the  water's  edge.  The  sun  was  just 
sinking  behind  the  green  hills  in  the  west,  re 
flecting  the  shadows  of  the  beautiful  gold  and 
purple  clouds  upon  the  surface  of  the  silver 
lake.  A  gentle  breeze  was  blowing  down  the 
valley,  and  the  little  waves  broke  with  a  musi 
cal  ripple  upon  the  pebbly  sands.  It  was  a 
lovely  hour  and  a  lovely  scene,  and  Charles 
felt  the  sweet  influence  of  both.  He  looked 
out  upon  the  lake,  and  wished  he  was  floating 
over  its  tiny  wavelets. 

He  stepped  upon  the  raft,  and  thought  how 
pleasant  and  how  exciting  it  would  be  to  sail 
over  to  Centre  Isle,  as  the  little  wood-crowned 
islet  that  rose  from  the  middle  of  the  lake 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  35 

was  called.  Pulling  up  the  stake  that  held  the 
raft,  he  pushed  out  a  little  way  from  the  shore. 
The  sensation  which  the  motion  of  the  raft 
produced  was  new  and  strange  to  him,  and  he 
felt  a  longing  desire  to  sail  farther.  But  just 
then  Frank  returned. 

"My  father  is  not  at  home,"  said  he. 

"  Can't  you  go,  then  ? "  asked  Charles,  as  he 
pushed  the  raft  to  the  shore  again. 

"  Yes  ;   I  told  my  mother  where  I  was  going." 

"  Frank,  let  us  go  up  to  Mrs.  Weston's  on  this 
raft.  She  lives  close  by  the  shore  of  the  lake." 

"My  father  told  me  never  to  go  on  the  lake 
without  permission  from  him." 

"Pooh!      What  harm  can  there  be  in  it?" 

"I  don't  know  that  there  can  be  any." 

"Let  us  go  then." 

"My  father  told  me  not  to  go  on  the  lake." 

"But  he  has  gone  away,  you  said." 

"I  cannot  disobey  him." 

"He  never  will  know  it." 


36  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"You  don't  meari  what  you  say,  Charley. 
You  would  not  have  me  go  directly  contrary 
to  what  my  father  told  me,  just  because  he  is 
not  here  to  see  me." 

Charles  felt  a  little  ashamed,  and  replacing  the 
stake  that  secured  the  raft,  jumped  on  shore. 
.    "It  is  a  delightful  evening,  and  it  would  be 
so  pleasant  to  take  a  little  sail !  "  said  he. 

"I  don't  think  that  raft  is  very  safe.  I  saw 
the  Bunkers  on  it  the  other  day,  and  they  stood 
ankle  deep  in  water." 

"I  am  not  afraid  of  it." 

"No  matter;  my  father  told  me  not  to  go 
on  the  lake,  which  is  quite  reason  enough  for 
me  not  to  do  so." 

"But  the  Bunkers  seem  to  have  a  first-rate 
time  on  it." 

"Perhaps  they  do." 

"  But  we  fellows  that  nave  to  mind  what  our 
fathers  and  mothers  tell  us  are  the  losers  by 
our  obedience." 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  87 

Frank  smiled;  he  could  not  help  doing  so  at 
the  thought  of  one  who  had  just  been  coun 
selling  him  to  disobedience  making  such  a  re 
mark. 

"I  am  quite  sure  I  am  contented." 

"But  don't  you  think  the  Bunkers  have  more 
fun  than  we  do?  Tim  Bunker  don't  care  any 
more  about  what  his  father  says  than  he  does 
about  the  fifth  wheel  of  a  coach,  and  he  always 
seems  to  have  a  first-rate  time." 

"Appearances  are  deceitful,"  replied  Frank 
with  a  sage  smile.  "Do  you  think  we  should 
enjoy  ourselves  up  to  our  ankles  in  water  on 
that  raft?" 

"  The  water  wouldn't  hurt  us." 

44  Not  so  much  as  the  disobedience,  it  is  true ; 
but  I  don't  care  much  about  such  fun  as  that." 

"Tim  Bunker  asked  me  to  sail  with  him 
over  to  the  island  yesterday,  and  I  had  a  great 
mind  to  go.  If  it  had  been  any  other  fellow,  I 
would." 


38  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"Your  father  told  you  not  to  go  on  the 
lake." 

"He  never  would  have  known  it." 

"Perhaps  not;  but  you  would  not  have  felt 
any  better  on  that  account." 

"For  my  part,  I  hate  to  be  tied  to  my 
father's  coat-tails  or  mother's  apron-string  when 
there  is  any  fun  going  on.  I  don't  see  why 
we  shouldn't  have  a  good  time  once  in  a  while, 
as  well  as  the  Bunkers,  who  are  no  better 
than  we  are." 

"I  don't  know  how  it  is  with  you,  but  I 
can  enjoy  myself  enough  and  obey  my  parents 
at  the  same  time." 

"Right,  Frank!"  exclaimed  Captain  Sedley,, 
who  at  this  moment  stepped  down  from  the 
grove  adjoining  the  beach,  where  he  had  over 
heard  a  part  of  the  conversation.  "So  you 
think,  Charles,  that  the  boys  who  disobey  their 
parents  enjoy  themselves  most." 

"No,    sir.     I   don't   exactly   mean   that;    but 


TEE  BUNKERS  OF  BIPPLETON  39 

the  Bunkers  have  some  first-rate  times  with 
this  raft,"  replied  Charles,  very  much  confused 
by  the  sudden  appearance  of  Frank's  father. 

"But  their  lives  are  continually  in  danger," 
added  Captain  Sedley. 

"  Oh,  sir,  they  can  all  swim." 

"All  of  them?" 

"Like  ducks,  sir." 

"Suppose  one  of  them  should  fall  overboard 
half  a  mile  from  the  land,  where  I  saw  them  yes 
terday.  Do  you  think  he  could  swim  ashore  ?  " 

"  Tim  could." 

"  There  are  a  great  many  things  to  be  con 
sidered  in  such  a  case.  His  clothes  might  en 
cumber  him ;  he  might  have  the  cramp ;  he 
might  get  frightened." 

"  The  others  could  save  him." 

"We  do  not  know  what  they  could  do.  Boys 
at  play  are  very  different  from  boys  in  the 
hour  of  peril.  When  I  was  a  sailor  before  the 
mast,  one  of  my  shipmates,  a  very  expert  swim- 


40  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

mer  ordinarily,  fell  from  the  mainyard  arm  into 
the  sea.  Two  of  us  jumped  in  to  assist  him; 
but  he  sank  to  the  bottom  like  a  lump  of 
lead,  and  we  never  saw  him  again." 

"That  was  strange,''  added  Charles. 

"He  was  taken  unawares;  he  lost  his  self- 
command,  and  it  might  be  so  with  the  Bunkers. 
This  rafting  is  dangerous  business,  and  I  advise 
you  never  to  engage  in  it;"  and  Captain  Sedley 
walked  off  towards  his  house. 

"  Father,  I  want  to  go  up  to  the  widow 
Weston's  a  little  while,"  said  Frank. 

"  Very  well ;  but  you  must  be  back  so  as  to 
go  to  bed  and  get  up  in  season  for  your  excur 
sion  to  the  city  to-morrow." 

"  Come,  Charley,  I  guess  we  won't  go  up  on 
the  raft,"  said  Frank  with  a  pleasant  laugh. 

"I  guess  not;"  and  the  two  boys  walked 
towards  the  rude  cottage  of  the  widow  Weston. 

It  was  situated  near  the  lake,  about  half  a 
mile  from  Captain  Sedley's.  Mrs.  Weston  was 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  41 

the  widow  of  a  poor  laboring  man  who  had 
died  about  a  year  before  our  story  opens.  She 
was  the  mother  of  four  children,  —  three  sons 
and  a  daughter.  Her  eldest  son,  who  was  now 
twenty-two  years  old,  had  been  in  California 
nearly  two  years,  having  left  his  home  a  year 
before  the  death  of  his  father.  She  had  received 
one  letter  from  him  on  his  arrival  at  San  Fran 
cisco,  since  which  she  had  heard  nothing  of 
him,  and  had  given  up  all  hopes  of  ever  seeing 
him  again.  She  had  not  a  doubt  but  that  he 
had  found  a  grave  in  the  golden  soil  of  that 
far-off  land.  She  mourned  him  as  dead,  and 
all  the  earthly  hopes  of  the  poor  mother  were 
concentrated  in  her  remaining  children. 

Anthony,  the  next  son,  whom  everybody 
called  Tony,  was  now  thirteen  years  old.  He 
was  an  active,  industrious  boy;  and  all  the 
neighbors  were  willing  to  employ  him  on  their 
farms  and  about  their  houses,  so  that  he  was 
able  to  do  a  great  deal  towards  supporting  the 


42  THE  BOAT  CLUB ;    OR, 

family.  He  was  a  good  boy,  so  honest  and 
truthful,  so  kind-hearted,  and  so  devoted  to  his 
poor  mother,  that  he  was  a  great  favorite  in 
the  vicinity;  and  some  of  the  richer  folks,  when 
they  really  had  no  work  for  him,  would  find 
something  for  him  to  do,  for  he  was  so  proud 
and  high-spirited  that  he  would  not  take  money 
he  had  not  earned. 

Mary  Weston,  the  daughter,  was  eleven  years 
of  age.  Like  her  brother,  she  had  a  sweet  and 
gentle  disposition,  and  did  all  she  could  to 
assist  her  poor  mother  in  the  strait  of  her 
poverty.  But  Mrs.  Weston,  though  she  had  a 
hard  struggle  to  get  along,  sent  her  daughter 
to  school  winter  and  summer,  preferring  to  de 
prive  herself  of  many  of  the  comforts  of  life, 
rather  than  have  her  daughter  forego  the  ad 
vantages  of  a  tolerable  education.  Mary,  though 
her  little  hands  were  too  feeble  to  work  much, 
felt  that  she  was  a  burden  to  her  toiling,  self- 
denying  parent;  and  though  she  could  not  per- 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  43 

suade  her  to  let  her  stay  at  home  and  help  her, 
used  all  her  time  out  of  school  in  taking  care 
of  little  Richard,  then  only  three  years  old. 
By  constantly  striving  to  be  useful,  and  by 
continually  watching  for  opportunities  to  be  of 
service  to  her  mother,  she  very  sensibly  dimin 
ished  the  burden  of  her  cares. 

Poor  as  the  widow  Weston  was,  hard  as  she 
was  obliged  to  struggle  for  a  subsistence,  she 
was  happy,  and  her  children  were  happy.  They 
had  no  fine  house,  no  money,  no  rich  carpets, 
no  beds  of  down,  as  their  rich  neighbor  had, 
yet  they  were  quite  as  happy  as  he  was.  The 
God  of  nature  gave  them  the  same  beautiful 
prospect  of  lake  and  hills,  and  woods  and 
rocks,  to  look  out  upon;  and  if  these  things 
helped  to  gladden  their  hearts,  it  was  goodness 
which  lay  at  the  foundation  of  all  their  joys, 
and  cast  a  ray  of  sunshine  across  the  path  of 
poverty  and  want.  They  were  contented  with 
their  lot,  hard  and  bitter  as  many  others  deemed 


44  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

it ;  and  contentment  made  them  happy,  —  pre 
pared  their  hearts  to  enjoy  the  blessings  of 
plenty,  if  God  in  his  wisdom  should  ever  be 
stow  it  upon  them. 

The  boys  found  the  family  at  supper,  and 
Frank  could  not  but  contrast  his  evening  meal 
with  that  of  the  poor  widow's  family.  He  had 
just  partaken  of  the  choicest  fruits,  nice  cake, 
hot  waffles  and  muffins,  set  before  him ;  the 
Westons  had  only  brown  bread  and  very  white 
butter.  He  had  used  silver  dishes  and  silver 
forks;  they  ate  their  coarse  fare  from  a  few 
half-broken  plates.  His  father  was  rich,  and 
they  were  very  poor. 

"  You  are  welcome,  Master  Frank ;  I  am  glad 
to  see  you,  and  Master  Charles  too,"  said  Mrs. 
Weston,  rising  from  the  table  and  handing  them 
chairs.  "I  hope  your  father  and  mother  are 
well." 

"Very  well,  I  thank  you,  ma'am,"  replied 
Frank.  "I  have  called  to  see  you  about  some- 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  45 

thing,  and  I  want  to  see  you  alone,"  added  he 
in  a  low  tone ;  for  he  did  not  wish  Tony,  who 
was  a  great  deal  prouder  than  his  mother,  to 
know  the  nature  of  his  errand. 

Just  then  Tony  finished  his  supper,  and  Mrs. 
Weston  sent  him  out  to  feed  the  hens. 

"I  have  brought  you  a  present,  Mrs.  Weston," 
continued  Frank ;  "  I  hope  you  will  accept  it." 

"  Indeed,  Master  Frank,  you  are  always  very 
good  to  me  ;  and  your  father  and  mother  too," 
replied  the  widow. 

"Here  are  seven  dollars.  Charles  and  I  wish 
to  give  you  this  sum." 

"  Seven  dollars !  "  exclaimed  the  widow ;  for 
to  a  poor  woman  like  her  this  was  a  very  large 
sum. 

"  Charles  and  I  had  saved  it  for  the  Fourth  of 
July;  but  we  thought  how  much  good  it  would 
do  you,  who  have  to  work  so  hard,  and  we 
determined  to  make  you  a  present  of  it." 

"  May  God   bless   you   both !  "   exclaimed  the 


46  THE  BOAT  CLUB ;    OR, 

widow,  wiping  a  tear  of  gratitude  from  her  eye; 
but  I  cannot  think  of  taking  your  money." 

"  But,  Mrs.  Weston,  you  must  take  it." 

"And  you  give  up  your  pleasure  for  a  poor 
body  like  me?" 

"We  give  the  money  to  you  because  it  will 
afford  us  a  greater  pleasure  than  to  spend  it 
for  fire-crackers  and  gingerbread." 

u  How  noble  and  generous !  but  you  wrong 
yourselves." 

"Oh,  no,  we  don't,"  said  Charles;  and  at  that 
moment  he  felt  happier  than  if  all  the  ginger 
bread  and  fire-crackers  in  the  world  had  been 
showered  down  upon  him. 

"Hush!  here  comes  Tony.  Not  a  word  to 
him  about  it  if  you  please." 

"  Heaven  bless  you,  boys !  "  said  the  poor 
woman  as  she  put  the  money  in  her  pocket. 

Frank  and  Charles  talked  a  few  moments  with 
Tony  about  the  "glorious  Fourth,"  and  then  took. 
leave  of  the  family. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  47 


CHAPTER  III 

A   DISAPPOINTED   BOY 

CAPTAIN  SEDLEY  was  an  early  riser.  Every 
morning  at  sunrise  he  was  abroad  in  the  pleas 
ant  grove  that  bordered  the  lake  near  his  house. 
It  was  a  favorite  spot,  and  he  had  spent  a  great 
deal  of  time  and  money  in  bringing  Art  into 
communion  with  Nature  in  this  lovely  retreat. 
He  had  cleared  out  the  underbrush,  made  gravel 
walks  and  avenues  through  it,  erected  a  sum 
mer-house  in  the  valley,  and  an  observatory  on 
the  summit  of  the  hill,  which  terminated  on  the 
lake  side  in  a  steep  rocky  precipice,  at  whose 
base  the  waters  rippled. 

The  worthy  shipmaster  was  a  devout  man, 
which  was  perhaps  the  reason  why  he  so  much 
enjoyed  his  morning  walk.  It  was  the  pleasant- 


48  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

est  hour  of  all  the  day  to  him,  —  a  fit  time  for 
meditation,  and  for  the  contemplation  of  the 
beautiful  scenery  that  surrounded  his  habitation. 
The  trees  looked  greener  and  the  lake  more  lim 
pid  then,  when  his  mind  was  invigorated  by  the 
peaceful  slumbers  of  the  preceding  night;  and 
there,  in  his  favorite  retreat,  while  all  nature 
was  smiling  upon  him,  went  up  his  morning 
prayer  to  that  beneficent  Being  who  had  spared 
him  yet  another  day,  and  crowned  his  life  with 
loving-kindness  and  tender  mercies. 

It -was  the  morning  of  the  Fourth  of  July; 
and  the  sounds  of  the  booming  cannon  and  the 
pealing  bells,  which  the  westerly  breeze  bore  up 
the  lake,  reminded  him  of  the  gratitude  he  owed 
to  God  for  the  political,  social,  and  religious 
privileges  which  had  been  bequeathed  to  the 
country  by  the  fathers  of  the  Revolution.  He 
prayed  for  his  country,  that  a  blessing  might 
always  rest  upon  it. 

As  he  walked  along,  thus  engaged  in  his  in- 


THE  BUNKEES   OF  EIPPLETON  49 

audible  devotions,  he  heard  a  footstep  behind 
him.  The  solitude  of  his  morning  walk  was 
seldom  disturbed  by  the  intrusion  of  others. 
Turning,  he  recognized  the  friend  of  his  son. 

"You  are  abroad  early,  Charles,"  said  he. 

"Yes,  sir;   this  is  the  Fourth  of  July." 

"And  you  feel  like  a  little  patriot  on  the 
occasion." 

"I  feel  like  having  some  fun." 

"No  doubt  of  it;  I  am  afraid  the  boys  think 
more  of  the  smoke  and  noise  of  the  day  than  they 
do  of  the  momentous  event  it  commemorates." 

"  We  like  to  have  a  good  time,  and  the  Fourth 
of  July  comes  but  once  a  year." 

"Probably  you  will  be  fully  satisfied  before 
night  comes." 

"I  don't  know,"  replied  Charles,  in  a  tone 
and  with  an  expression  of  countenance  which 
attracted  the  attention  of  Captain  Sedley. 

"  You  don't  know !  I  thought  you  were  de 
pending  upon  a  good  time  in  the  city  I  " 


50  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"We  did  anticipate  a  great  deal  of  pleas 
ure,  but  we  have  given  it  up." 

"Indeed!  I  have  made  preparations  to  take 
you  to  Boston." 

"We  have  given  it  up,  sir,"  repeated  Charles. 

"Frank?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"He  has  not  mentioned  the  fact  to  me." 

"  But  he  intends  to  do  so." 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this?  I  am 
surprised." 

"I  knew  you  would  be,"  said  Charles  eva 
sively. 

"But  why  have  you  given  it  up?" 

"Oh!   that's  a  secret." 

"  Is  it,  indeed  ?  Then,  you  really  are  not 
going?" 

"No,  sir." 

"I  suppose  the  secret  is  not  to  be  divulged 
to  me." 

"No,  sir." 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  BIPPLETON  51 

Captain  Sedley  was  not  a  little  perplexed  by 
what  he  had  heard.  The  proposed  excursion 
had  been  the  topic  of  conversation  for  the  last 
fortnight,  and  Charles  and  Frank  had  both  man 
ifested  the  liveliest  interest  in  it.  And  now 
that  the  whole  scheme  had  been  abandoned,  the 
anticipated  pleasure  voluntarily  resigned,  was 
strange  and  incomprehensible.  At  first  he  was 
disposed  to  believe  some  more  agreeable  plan 
of  spending  the  day  had  been  devised,  and  it 
seemed  questionable  to  him  whether  the  plan 
which  must  be  kept  secret  could  meet  his  ap 
probation. 

"It  was  Frank's  notion,  Mr.  Sedley,"  added 
Charles. 

"And  you  have  promised  not  to  tell  me?" 

"  Oh,  no,  sir !  I  don't  know  that  Frank  would 
like  it  if  I  should  do  so,  though  I  can't  see 
what  harm  it  would  do." 

"  Of  course  you  must  do  as  you  think 
proper,"  replied  Captain  Sedley.  "I  don't  wish 


52  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

you  to  betray  Frank's  confidence,  unless  you 
think  he  is  doing  wrong." 

"Nothing  wrong,  sir." 

"Then,  why  should  it  be  kept  secret?" 

"I  do  not  know  of  any  reason  why  it  should 
be.  You  won't  tell  Frank  if  I  let  the  cat  out 
of  the  bap-  ?  "*  said  Charles  with  a  kind  of 
forced  laugh, 

"Certainty  not,  if  you  wish  it." 

"Well,  tl/en,  we  are  not  going  because  we 
have  no  money  to  spend." 

"No  money!  Why,  I  gave  Frank  three  dol 
lars  towards  it  no  longer  ago  than  yesterday, 
and  he  had  some  money  before  that,"  replied 
Captain  Sedley,  not  a  little  alarmed  at  the 
revelation. 

"Frank  had  four  dollars  and  .seventy-five 
cents,  and  I  had  two  dollars  and  twenty-five 
cents,  which  made  seven  dollars  between  us." 

"  What  have  you  done  with  it  ?  "  asked  the  kind 
father,  fearful  lest  his  son  had  been  doing  wrong. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  53 

"  Last  night  we  concluded  to  give  our  money 
to  the  widow  Weston,  instead  of  spending  it 
for  candy  and  crackers,  and  to  stay  at  home 
instead  of  going  to  Boston." 

An  expression  of  pleasure  lighted  up  the 
features  of  the  devoted  father.  The  confession 
of  Charles  was  a  great  relief  to  him. 

« Well  done,  boys !  "  exclaimed  he.  "  That 
was  noble  and  generous ;  "  and  involuntarily  he 
thrust  his  hand  into  his  pocket,  and  drew  forth 
his  purse. 

"  Frank  proposed  it,"  said  Charles,  a  gleam 
of  satisfaction  lighting  up  his  eye  as  he  beheld 
the  purse. 

Captain  Sedley  held  it  in  his  hand  a  moment, 
looked  searchingly  at  Charles,  and  then  returned 
it  to  his  pocket. 

"  It  was  a  noble  deed,  Charles ;  and  I  had 
rather  hear  such  a  thing  of  my  son  than  to 
have  all  the  wealth  and  honors  which  the  world 
can  give  bestowed  upon  him." 


54  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

Charles  looked  disappointed  when  he  saw 
Captain  Sedley  restore  his  purse  to  his  pocket. 

"  And  Frank  means  to  keep  it  a  secret,  does 
he  ?  "  continued  the  delighted  father. 

"Yes,  sir;  till  to-morrow." 

"Very  well;  I  will  not  mention  the  fact  that 
you  have  told  me  about  it." 

"Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Charles  doubtfully. 

"And  I  am  glad  you  told  me  —  that  is,  if 
you  have  not  betrayed  his  confidence ;  "  and 
Captain  Sedley  looked  rather  sharply  at  Charles. 

"Oh,  no,  sir!  I  have  not." 

"Because,  when  he  tells  me  he  does  not  in 
tend  to  go,  I  should  otherwise  have  insisted  on 
knowing  the  reason." 

Charles  was  already  sorry  he  had  said  a  word 
about  it. 

"It  was  a  noble  sacrifice,  Charles,"  continued 
Captain  Sedley  with  much  enthusiasm.  "  If 
from  a  worthy  motive  we  sacrifice  our  inclina 
tions  for  the  good  of  others,  we  are  always  sure 


TEE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  55 

of  finding  our  reward  —  indeed,  the  act  is  its 
own  reward." 

Charles  began  to  feel  a  little  uneasy.  It 
seemed  to  him  as  though  Captain  Sedley  never 
looked  so  sharply  at  him  before.  What  could 
he  mean  ?  He  had  given  all  his  money  to  the 
widow  Weston  as  well  as  Frank,  but  Captain 
Sedley's  looks  seemed  to  reprove  rather  than 
commend  him.  He  did  not  feel  satisfied  with 
himself,  or  with  Captain  Sedley — why,  he  could 
not  exactly  tell;  so  he  happened  to  think  that 
his  father  might  want  him,  and  he  ran  home  as 
fast  as  his  legs  would  carry  him. 

But  his  father  did  not  want  him,  and  he 
walked  nervously  about  the  house  till  breakfast- 
time.  He  had  no  appetite,  and  everything 
seemed  to  go  wrong  with  him. 

"  Come,  Charles,"  said  his  mother,  "  eat  your 
breakfast,  or  you  will  get  hungry  before  you 
get  to  Boston." 

"Not  going,"  answered  he  sulkily. 


56  TSE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  Why  not  ? "  asked  his  father  and  mother 
in  the  same  breath. 

"  Haven't  got  any  money." 

"No  money!  Where  is  the  two  dollars  I 
gave  you  yesterday?"  asked  Mr.  Hardy  rather 
sternly. 

"Gave  it  away." 

"You  did?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"To  whom?" 

"Frank  proposed  last  night  to  give  our  money 
to  the  widow  Weston  instead  of  spending  it; 
and  like  a  great  fool  as  I  was,  I  agreed  to  it." 

"  Poor  fellow !  It  is  too  bad  I  "  added  Mrs. 
Hardy. 

"What  did  he  do  it  for,  then?"  said  Mr. 
Hardy. 

"  Of  course  he  didn't  want  to  be  behind 
Frank  in  doing  a  good  action." 

"But  he  is  a  long  way  behind  him." 

"Why,  husband!" 


THE  BUNKEES  OF  EIPPLETON  57 

"  He  has  given  the  woman  the  money,  and 
played  the  hypocrite,"  replied  Mr.  Hardy,  with 
the  most  evident  expression  of  disgust  in  his 
tones  and  looks.  "He  has  acted  just  like  a 
great  many  folks  who  put  money  into  the  con 
tribution-box  for  missions  and  Bible  societies, 
because  they  think  it  looks  well." 

"  But,  husband,  you  will  give  him  some  more 
money?  You  will  make  up  the  sum  to  him 
which  he  has  given  in  charity?" 

"  Given  in  charity  !  Given  in  hypocrisy,  you 
mean !  I  shall  do  no  such  thing." 

"  Deprive  the  poor  boy  of  all  his  anticipated 
pleasure?"  said  the  indulgent  mother. 

"  The  bitter  fruit  of  his  own  hypocrisy," 
replied  Mr.  Hardy. 

"You  are  too  bad!" 

"No,  I  am  not.  If  he  gave  away  his  money 
because  he  thought  it  was  an  act  of  charity 
that  would  look  well,  that  would  make  Frank 
and  his  father  think  better  of  him,  he  is 


58  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

rightly  served;  and  I  am  disposed  to  shut  him 
up  in  this  room  with  a  good  book  to  teach 
him  better,  instead  of  letting  him  go  to  the 
celebration." 

Mr.  Hardy  was  a  blunt,  honest  man,  per 
haps  a  little  too  much  inclined  to  be  harsh 
with  his  son  when  he  had  done  wrong.  Pos 
sibly  his  views  of  parental  discipline  were  not 
altogether  correct,  but  in  the  main  he  meant 
right.  He  was  disgusted  at  the  conduct  of 
Charles,  and  thought  no  reasonable  penalty  too 
severe  for  hypocrisy  and  deceit. 

"On  the  other  hand,"  continued  he,  "if  he 
had  made  up  his  mind  to  sacrifice  his  incli 
nation  at  the  call  of  charity,  he  would  not  have 
felt  as  he  does  now.  He  would  have  been  con 
tented  to  stay  at  home.  He  would  have  found 
a  nobler  satisfaction  in  the  consciousness  of 
having  done  a  good  deed  than  in  all  the  an 
ticipated  pleasures  of  the  celebration.  It  is 
very  plain  to  me  the  whole  thing  was  an  act 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  59 

of  gross  hypocrisy;"  and  Mr.  Hardy  rose  from 
the  table,  and  left  the  room. 

Charles  understood  his  father's  analysis  of  his 
conduct.  He  felt  that  it  was  truthful.  What 
would  his  father  have  said  if  he  had  known 
his  motive  in  seeking  Captain  Sedley  that  morn 
ing?  He  was  ashamed  of  himself,  and  was 
glad  that  his  father  knew  nothing  about  it. 

He  had  not  yet  lost  all  hope  that  Captain 
Sedley  would  reimburse  the  sums  they  had  given 
the  widow,  and  take  them  to  Boston.  But 
Frank's  father,  appreciating  the  noble  sacrifice 
his  son  had  made,  was  content  that  he  should 
receive  all  the  moral  discipline  to  be  derived 
from  the  act.  Therefore  he  said  nothing  about 
it,  and  went  to  the  city  alone. 

Charles  waited  impatiently  till  ten  o'clock; 
but  no  one  came  for  him,  and  he  left  the  house 
in  search  of  such  enjoyment  as  Rippleton  could 
afford  him. 


60  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE   FOURTH   OF  JULY 

CHARLES  HARDY  was  sadly  disappointed. 
He  had  given  his  money  to  the  widow  Weston 
in  the  fullest  confidence  that  it  would  be  re 
funded  to  him,  and  that  he  should  be  able  to 
attend  the  celebration  in  Boston.  When  Frank 
had  proposed  the  charitable  plan,  his  heart  told 
him  how  good  and  pleasant  it  would  be  to  as 
sist  the  poor  woman.  His  feelings  were  with 
his  friend  in  the  benevolent  design ;  it  was  a 
mere  impulse,  however,  which  prompted  him  to 
join  in  the  act.  He  thought  of  the  sacrifice, 
but  the  hope  of  not  being  actually  compelled 
to  make  it  in  the  end  involuntarily  helped  him 
to  a  decision. 

His  father  had  misjudged  his  motive  in  call- 


THE  BUNKEES   OF  RIPPLETON  61 

ing  him  hypocritical,  for  he  really  felt  like 
doing  the  noble  deed.  He  felt  kindly  towards 
the  widow  Weston ;  but  his  principle  was  not 
strong  and  deep  enough  to  enable  him  to  bear 
with  pleasure,  or  even  with  a  good  grace,  the 
deprivation  which  his  benevolent  act  had  called 
upon  him  to  suffer. 

It  was  not  so  with  Frank.  He  had  given 
without  the  hope  of  reward;  and  in  staying  at 
home  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  he  was  perfectly 
contented,  because  it  was  the  price  he  paid 
for  the  pleasure  of  doing  good. 

Charles,  when  he  found  that  Captain  Sedley 
did  not  come  for  him,  hastened  over  to  find 
Frank.  He  and  Tony  Weston  were  on  the 
beach. 

"  Hello,  Charley !  We  have  been  waiting  for 
you,"  said  Frank,  as  he  approached. 

"Hello,  fellows!  What's  in  the  wind?"  re 
plied  Charles.  "What  are  you  going  to  do 
to-day?" 


62  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

"We  were  just  thinking  about  something." 

"Has  your  father  gone  to  the  city,  Frank?" 

"Yes." 

"What  did  he  say?" 

"  Nothing." 

"Didn't  he  look  surprised?" 

"Not  much.  He  only  asked  me  the  reason, 
and  I  said  I  would  tell  him  to-morrow.  He 
didn't  say  any  more  about  it.  Got  off  nicely, 
didn't  I  ?  " 

"First-rate,"  replied  Charles  coldly. 

"  What  are  you  talking  about  ?  "  asked  Tony, 
to  whom,  of  course,  this  conversation  was  unin 
telligible. 

"Tell  you  some  other  time,  Tony,"  replied 
Charles.  "Now,  what  shall  we  do  to-day?" 

"I  don't  know.  Here  comes  Uncle  Ben;  per 
haps  he  can  give  us  an  idea." 

Uncle  Ben  was  an  old  seaman,  who  had  sailed 
a  great  many  years  in  the  employ  of  Captain 
Sedley.  He  was  a  rough,  blunt  old  fellow,  but 


TEE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  63 


so  honest,  warm-hearted,  and  devoted  to  his 
employer,  that  when  the  latter  retired  from  the 
duties  of  his  profession,  he  had  given  him  a 
home  on  his  estate.  Uncle  Ben  was  a  good 
sailor,  but  he  had  never  risen  above  the  place 
of  second  mate.  Without  much  ambition  to 
distinguish  himself,  or  to  make  money,  he  was 
perfectly  content  to  live  with  Captain  Sedley, 
even  in  a  humble  capacity. 

Frank  was  an  especial  favorite  of  Uncle  Ben; 
and  as  the  old  sailor's  habits  were  good,  and  as 
his  ideas  of  morality  and  religion  rendered  him 
a  safe  companion  for  his  son,  Captain  Sedley 
permitted  and  encouraged  their  intimacy.  Dur 
ing  the  long  winter  evenings,  he  listened  with 
the  most  intense  interest  and  delight  to  Uncle 
Ben's  descriptions  of  sea  life  and  of  the  various 
countries  he  had  visited. 

With  the  neighbors,  and  especially  the  boys 
in  the  vicinity,  the  old  sailor  was  respected,  and 
treated  with  a  great  deal  of  consideration.  He 


64  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

was  an  old  man,  but  he  had  always  maintained 
an  unblemished  character.  He  was  full  of  kind 
ness  and  sympathy,  always  manifesting  the  live 
liest  regard  for  the  welfare  of  his  friends;  and 
on  this  account  people  had  got  into  the  way  of 
calling  him  by  the  familiar  sobriquet  of  Uncle 
Ben.  It  is  true  he  was  sometimes  rude  and 
rough,  but  his  kind  heart  atoned  for  the  blem 
ishes  in  his  deportment. 

Though  Captain  Sedley  considered  Uncle  Ben 
a  necessary  appendage  to  his  estate,  he  did  not 
impose  upon  him  the  performance  of  any  very- 
arduous  duties.  He  kept  a  pleasure-boat  on  the 
lake,  and  the  old  sailor  had  the  entire  charge 
of  that.  Occasionally  he  worked  a  little  in  the 
garden,  groomed  the  horses,  and  did  the  "  chores  " 
about  the  house ;  but  to  use  his  own  expression, 
he  was  "laid  up  in  ordinary." 

"Here  comes  Uncle  Ben,"  said  Frank. 

"I  have  been  lookin'  for  you,  boys.  What 
are  you  up  to  here  ?  " 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPP'LETQN  65 

"Nothing,  Uncle  Ben.'' 

"What  do  you  stand  there  for,  then?  Arn't 
this  the  Fourth  of  July?" 

"  It  is,  Uncle  Ben ;  and  we  were  thinking 
what  we  should  do  with  ourselves.  Can't  you 
tell  us?" 

"  That  I  can,  boys ;  I  am  goin'  across  the  lake 
in  the  boat,  and  Cap'n  Sedley  told  me  I  might 
take  you  over  with  me  if  you'd  like  to  go." 

"  Hurrah  I  "  cried  Charles  Hardy,  throwing 
up  his  cap  with  delight. 

"  That  we  would,  Uncle  Ben ;  and  right  glad 
we  are  of  the  chance  to  go,"  replied  Frank. 

"  Tumble  up  to  the  boat-house,  then,"  replied 
Uncle  Ben,  as  he  hobbled  after  the  boys,  who, 
delighted  with  the  prospect  of  a  sail  on  the 
lake,  bounded  off  like  so  many  antelopes. 

The  boat  was  cast  off  from  her  moorings  in 
the  boat-house,  and  the  boys  jumped  in. 

"You  will  let  me  steer,  won't  you,  Uncle 
Ben?"  said  Frank. 


66  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OE, 

"Sartin,  if  you  want  to.     Take  the  helm." 

The  old  sailor  hoisted  the  sails,  and  the  boat 
stood  out  towards  the  middle  of  the  lake. 

"Steady,  there,"  said  Uncle  Ben;  "keep  the 
sails  full." 

Frank  found  it  was  not  so  easy  a  matter  to 
steer  a  sailboat  as  he  had  supposed ;  for  one 
moment  he  stopped  the  boat  by  "throwing  her 
up  into  the  wind,"  and  the  next  ran  her  almost 
on  shore  by  "keeping  away." 

"  Keep  her  away !  "  cried  Uncle  Ben.  "  That 
will  do;  steady  as  she  is.  No,  no;  you  are  six 
p'ints  off  the  course  now.  Luff  a  little  !  Hard 
a  port!" 

"I  don't  know  what  you  mean,  Uncle  Ben; 
I  think  you  had  better  steer  yourself,"  said 
Frank,  resigning  the  helm. 

"I  think  I  had." 

Under  the  old  sailor's  skilful  management,  the 
boat  soon  reached  Centre  Isle,  where  they  de 
cided  to  land. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  67 

"Now,  boys,  if  you  want  to  celebrate  a  little, 
here's  half  a  dozen  bunches  of  crackers,"  said 
Uncle  Ben,  as  he  took  a  little  package  from 
the  locker  in  the  stern  of  the  boat. 

"  Bravo,  Uncle  Ben !  We  will  have  a  nice 
time." 

"Now,  if  you  are  a  mind  to  stay  here  and 
have  a  good  time,  while  I  sail  over  to  the  other 
shore  to  see  a  sick  man,  I  will  give  you  a  good 
sail  when  I  return." 

**  Hurrah !  we  will,  Uncle  Ben.  Have  you 
got  any  matches  ?  " 

"There  are  matches  and  a  slowmatch  in  the 
bundle,"  replied  Uncle  Ben,  as  he  pushed  off. 
"Now  blaze  away,  and  don't  burn  your  fingers." 

"  Now  for  it !  "  exclaimed  Charles,  as  he 
lighted  the  slowmatch.  "  Here  goes  the  first 
shot.  Hurrah!" 

The  boys  were  in  high  glee.  The  crackers 
snapped  admirably,  and  the  little  forest  of  Cen 
tre  Isle  reverberated  with  the  reports  of  their 


68  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OK, 

mimic  guns.  Various  expedients  were  devised 
to  vary  the  entertainment.  Crackers  were  fired 
in  the  water,  in  the  stumps,  thrown  in  the 
air,  or  half  buried  in  the  wet  sand  of  the 
beach. 

"  By  gracious  !  the  Bunkers  are  coming !  " 
exclaimed  Tony  Weston,  as  he  discerned  the 
raft,  navigated  by  half  a  dozen  boys,  approach 
ing  the  island. 

"Let  them  come,"  said  Charles. 

"I  had  rather  they  would  not  come,"  added 
Frank. 

"What  harm  will  they  do?" 

"They  are  quarrelsome  and  disagreeable." 

"  Well,  they  won't  be  here  this  fralf-hou* 
yet;  that  is  one  consolation;  and  we  can  have 
a  good  time  till  they  do  get  here,"  returned 
Charles,  as  he  lighted  a  whole  bunch  of  the 
crackers. 

"  Go  it !  "  cried  Tony.  "  Hurrah !  Fourth 
of  July  comes  but  once  a  year." 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  69 

"Don't  fire  them  all  at  once,  Charley,"  in 
terposed  Frank. 

44  That  is  all  the  fun  of  it." 

"But  the  fun  won't  last  long  at  that  rate." 

"  We  must  fire  them  all  before  the  Bunkers 
get  here,  or  they  will  take  them  away  from 
us." 

And  before  the  half-hour  which  Charles  had 
given  them  to  reach  the  island  had  expired, 
their  stock  was  entirely  gone,  their  ammunition 
exhausted,  their  noisy  patriotism  evaporated,  and 
they  seated  themselves  on  the  grass  to  watch 
the  approaching  raft. 

It  had  been  a  long  and  difficult  passage,  but 
at  last  the  Bunkers  landed. 

"  Hello,  Tony,"  said  Tim,  as  he  leaped  ashore ; 
64  what  are  you  doing  here  ?  " 

"Been  firing  crackers,"  replied  Tony. 

"Got  any  more?" 

"I  haven't." 

"Who  has?" 


70  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  None  of  us,"  replied  Frank.  "  We  have 
fired  them  all." 

"  You  haven't !  "  answered  Tim  with  an  oath. 

"I  tell  you  the  truth;  don't  I,  Charley?" 

"We  had  but  six  bunches,  and  we  have  fired 
them  all,"  added  Charles. 

"I  don't  believe  it;  you  long-face  fellers  will 
lie  twice  as  quick  as  one  of  us,"  said  Tim, 
walking  up  to  Frank. 

" 1  have  no  more ;  I  would  not  lie  about  it," 
protested  Frank. 

"  Yes,  yer  would  lie  about  it  too.  Now,  just 
hand  over  some  o'  them  crackers,  or  I'll  duck 
you  in  the  lake." 

Frank  made  no  reply  to  this  rude  speech. 
He  heartily  wished  himself  off  the  island,  and 
out  of  the  company  of  the  newcomers. 

"  Hit  him,  Tim !  "   cried  one  of  the  Bunkers. 

"  Hit  him !  "  repeated  the  others. 

"Want  to  fight?"  said  Tim,  doubling  up  his 
tists,  and  assuming  a  pugilistic  attitude. 


I  DON'T  WANT  TO  FIGHT.     P.   71, 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  71 

"No,  I  don't  want  to  fight;  I  will  not  fight," 
replied  Frank,  retreating  backward  from  the 
quarrelsome  boy. 

"Oh,  you  won't  fight,  eh?  Then,  you'll  git 
licked,"  replied  Tim,  following  him. 

"  I  have  not  injured  you ;  I  don't  see  why 
you  should  wish  to  fight  with  me." 

"  You  lie !  yer  have.  Didn't  yer  tell  me  yer 
hadn't  got  no  more  crackers  ?  " 

"I  have  not." 

"  Yes,  yer  have ;  "  and  Tim  struck  Frank  a 
severe  blow  which  made  his  lip  bleed. 

"  Don't  do  that  again !  "  cried  Tony  Weston, 
his  face  flushed  with  indignation. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it?"  said 
Tim,  turning  to  Tony. 

"I  don't  want  to  fight,  but  I  won't  see  him 
abused  in  that  shape." 

"Never  mind  him,  Tony,"  interposed  Frank. 
"  He  didn't  hurt  me  much.  Let  us  go  over  to 
the  other  side  of  the  island." 


72  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  No,  yer  won't !  "  said  Tim  Bunker,  approach 
ing  Frank  again,  and  giving  him  another  blow 
in  the  face. 

Tony  "Weston  could  bear  no  more ;  and  spring 
ing  upon  the  leader  of  the  Bunkers,  he  struck 
him  several  times  in  rapid  succession. 

"Don't,  Tony,  don't,"  said  Frank,  trying  to 
separate  the  combatants. 

"  Fair  play !  "  cried  the  Bunkers. 

Tony,  though  younger  and  lighter  than  his  an 
tagonist,  pressed  him  so  severely  that  he  brought 
him  to  the  ground  before  Frank  and  Charles 
could  draw  him  off.  Tim  instantly  leaped  to 
his  feet  again. 

"  Come  on !  "  said  he. 

"Don't,  Tony." 

"Mind  your  own  business!"  said  Tim  to 
Frank  as  he  renewed  the  assault  upon  him. 

Frank  tried  to  get  away ;  and  when  Tony  and 
Charles  came  to  his  assistance  the  other  Bunkers 
attacked  them,  and  the  fight  became  general. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  73 

Give  it  to  'em,'*  shouted  Tim,  as  he  struck 
his  opponent  several  times  on  the  head. 

Frank  saw  that  he  had  nothing  to  hope  for 
unless  he  defended  himself.  He  had  done  his 
best  to  prevent  the  fight,  and  now  he  felt  justi 
fied  in  resorting  to  necessary  violence  to  save 
himself  from  further  injury. 

Suddenly  springing  upon  his  assailant,  he  bore 
him  to  the  ground,  and  held  him  there.  In  the 
meantime  Tony  and  Charles  were  getting  the 
worst  of  it,  when  a  loud  shout  arrested  the  at 
tention  of  the  combatants.  They  all  suspended 
the  strife. 

"It  is  Uncle  Ben,"  said  Charles. 

The  Bunkers  seemed  to  understand  the  char 
acter  of  the  old  sailor;  and  taking  to  their  heels, 
they  fled  precipitately  towards  the  other  end  of 
the  island. 

"  What  are  you  about,  boys  ?  "  said  Uncle  Ben 
sternly,  as  he  landed. 

"We   could  not  help  it,  Uncle   Ben;   indeed 


74  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

we  could  not,"  replied  Frank,  wiping  his  bleed 
ing  lip,  and  proceeding  to  tell  the  particulars 
of  the  whole  affair. 

"It  was  my  fault;  I  ought  not  to  have  left 
you  here  alone.  What  will  your  father  say  ?  " 
said  Uncle  Ben,  looking  much  troubled. 

"  He  will  not  say  anything ;  I  am  sure  you 
are  not  to  blame,  Uncle  Ben." 

"Jump  into  the  boat,  and  let  us  be  off. 
These  boys  must  be  attended  to." 

Uncle  Ben,  instead  of  immediately  following 
the  boys  into  the  boat,  pushed  off  the  raft  from 
the  shore,  and  attaching  a  line  to  it,  made  fast 
the  other  end  to  the  boat. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do,  Uncle  Ben  ? " 
asked  Frank. 

"I  am  going  to  keep  them  ruffians  prisoners 
for  a  while,"  replied  he,  as  the  boat  shot  away 
from  the  island  with  the  raft  in  tow. 

"  You  don't  mean  to  keep  them  there  ?  " 

"  I   sartinly  do,  till   your   father   comes  home, 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  E1PPLETON  75 

and  he  may  do  what  he  pleases  with  'em.  If 
I  had  my  way,  I'd  tie  'em  up  to  the  grating, 
and  give  'em  a  dozen  apiece.  'Twould  sarve 
'em  right,  the  meddlesome  rascals !  I  like  good 
boys,  but  such  boys  as  them  is  worse  nor  ma 
rines." 

"But,  Uncle  Ben,  we  can't  sail  with  this  raft 
dragging  after  us." 

"We  will  make  the  shore  with  it,  then." 

The  raft  was  towed  ashore,  and  the  boys  had 
a  fine  sail  the  entire  length  of  the  lake.  As 
they  passed  Centre  Isle,  they  could  see  the  Bun 
kers  gathered  in  a  ring,  apparently  discussing 
their  prospects ;  and  on  their  return,  Tim  hailed 
them,  begging  to  be  taken  ashore. 

"  What  do  you  say,  boys  ?  "  shall  we  forgive 
'em?"  asked  Uncle  Ben. 

"Yes!  "  exclaimed  all  three. 

Uncle  Ben  landed  at  the  island,  and  took 
them  in,  and  during  the  passage  read  them  a  se 
vere  lecture  on  the  error  of  their  ways.  They 


76  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

gave  good  attention  to  him,  and  seemed  very 
penitent.  But  no  sooner  had  they  got  ashore, 
and  out  of  reach  of  the  old  sailor,  than  they 
insulted  him  by  hooting  his  name,  coupled  with 
the  most  opprobrious  epithets. 

"No  use  to  be  easy  with  'em.  The  better 
you  use  'em  the  worse  they  sarve  you,"  said 
Uncle  Ben,  as  he  hauled  the  boat  into  its 
house. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  11 


CHAPTER  V 

THE   CLUB   BOAT 

FOR  a  fortnight  "the  Bunkers  did  not  venture 
to  approach  the  residence  of  Captain  Sedley. 
The  raft,  which  Uncle  Ben  had  been  instructed 
to  break  up,  was  removed  some  distance  down 
the  lake  before  he  had  time  to  execute  his 
orders.  After  a  few  days  the  memorable  inci 
dent  of  the  "  Fourth  "  ceased  to  be  talked  about, 
and  was  finally  forgotten. 

Two  weeks  passed  away.  Uncle  Ben  had 
been  absent  from  home  three  days.  He  went 
to  Boston  with  his  employer,  who  returned  with 
out  him.  To  Frank's  earnest  inquiries  as  to 
where  he  was,  his  father  only  replied  that  he 
would  return  soon. 

It  was  after  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  on 


78  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

the  third  day  when  he  returned.  Frank  teased 
him  to  tell  where  he  had  been  all  the  time ; 
but  Uncle  Ben  only  looked  strange  and 
mysterious,  and  would  not  gratify  his  curi 
osity. 

Frank  got  up  the  next  morning  quite  early, 
and  walked  over  to  the  widow  Weston's  with 
Charles.  On  their  return,  a  new  object  on  the 
lake  attracted  the  attention  of  the  latter. 

"Hello,  Frank!  what's  that?"  exclaimed  he. 
"  By  gracious  !  it  is  a  new  boat !  " 

"  So  it  is ;  and  what  an  odd-looking  craft !  " 

Both  boys  ran  with  all  their  might  down  to 
the  little  beach  by  the  road  to  get  a  nearer 
view  of  the  strange  boat. 

"  My  eyes !  look  at  it !  "  ejaculated  the  won 
dering  Charles. 

"What  can  it  mean?  It  wasn't  there  last 
night,"  said  Frank. 

"  No ;  and  it  looks  like  the  boats  we  read 
about  in  the  fairy  books.  I  shouldn't  wonder 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETOfl  79 

if  she  dropped  down  out  of  the  clouds.  Isn't 
she  a  beauty  ?  " 

"  That  she  is !  And  how  long  and  slender 
she  is!  " 

"  One,  two,  three  —  twelve  places  for  the  oars," 
cried  Charles. 

"  Uncle  Ben  knows  something  about  her,  I 
believe !  "  exclaimed  Frank,  as  a  beam  of  intel 
ligence  penetrated  his  mind. 

"  Just    twig    the    bow !     'Tis    as    sharp    as    a 


razor." 


"And  there  is  her  name  on  each  side  of  it  — 
Zephyr  I  What  a  pretty  name  it  is  !  " 

"  So  it  is.  That  boat's  a  ripper,  let  me  tell 
you !  "  said  Charles  enthusiastically. 

"A  what?"  asked  Captain  Sedley,  coming 
down  from  a  thicket  in  the  grove  close  by,  where 
he  had  been  enjoying  the  astonishment  of  the 
boys. 

"O  father!  "  exclaimed  Frank,  "whose  is  she? 
Where  did  she  come  from  ?  What  is  she  for  ?  " 


80  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OE, 

"  One  question  at  a  time,  Frank.  But  before 
I  answer  any  of  them,  let  me  say  a  word  to 
you,  Charles.  You  said  she  was  a  'ripper'  just 
now." 

"  That  wasn't  any  harm,  was  it?" 

"Not  a  very  elegant  word,  though.  I  will 
warrant  you  cannot  find  it  in  the  dictionary." 

"I  merely  meant  that  it  was  a  very  fine 
boat." 

"I  presume  you  meant  nothing  wrong;  but 
such  expressions  do  not  add  anything  to  the 
force  of  language,  and  using  them  may  induce 
a  bad  habit.  If  you  associated  with  boys  accus 
tomed  to  use  profanity,  this  desire  to  use  strong 
wor&s  would  lead  you  into  the  practice." 

"I  never  thought  of  that." 

"  Just  now  you  said,  '  By  gracious  !  '  Such 
phrases  are  apt  to  induce  profanity,  and  are 
no  addition  whatever  to  the  force  of  your  re 
mark." 

"I  don't  know  that  they  are." 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  81 


"  You  were  very  much  surprised  at  seeing 
this  boat." 

"  We  were,  indeed." 

"  Frank,  it  is  yours,"  added  Captain  Sedley, 
turning  with  a  smile  to  his  son. 

"  Mine,  father !  "  exclaimed  Frank,  clapping 
his  hands.  4 

"  It  is  yours,  and  of  course  your  friends  will 
derive  as  much  pleasure  from  its  use  as  you 
will  yourself." 

"  But  where  did  it  come  from,  father  ?  " 

"  Two  months  ago,  when  the  Bunkers  first 
began  to  amuse  themselves  with  the  raft,  the 
idea  of  procuring  it  occurred  to  me.  I  saw 
that  you  and  Charles  both  had  a  great  desire 
to  join  in  their  sports.  For  obvious  reasons 
I  could  not  permit  Frank  to  do  so ;  but  I  im 
mediately  resolved  that  you  should  have  the 
means  of  enjoying  yourselves  on  the  lake  in 
safety  and  comfort,  and  I  ordered  this  boat  to 
be  built." 


82  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

"  Isn't  she  a  beauty  !  "  exclaimed  Charles. 

"  But,  Charles,  do  you  remember  what  you 
said  a  fortnight  ago  ?  " 

"No,  sir." 

"  When  you  were  talking  here  on  the  evening 
before  the  Fourth  of  July?" 

"  I  said  a  great  many  things,  I  suppose,  and 
some  of  them  not  quite  so  bright  as  they  might 
have  been,"  replied  Charles,  wondering  what 
weakness  of  his  was  now  to  be  exposed. 

"Your  remark  was  to  the  effect  that  boys 
who  were  obliged  to  mind  their  parents  were 
the  losers  for  their  obedience." 

"But  I  did  not  mean  so,  sir." 

"  You  meant  some  of  it,  Charles.  You  wanted 
to  go  on  the  raft,  and  you  felt  at  that  moment 
as  though  it  was  a  disagreeable  duty  to  obey 
your  parents.  But  I  think  it  was  only  a  mo 
mentary  feeling." 

"I  am  sure  it  was,  sir." 

"Let  this   beautiful  boat,  then,   convince  you 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  83 

that  obedience  to  jour  parents  is  your  duty, 
and  ought  to  be  your  pleasure." 

"How  came  it  here,  father?"  asked  Frank. 
"I  am  completely  mystified." 

"  Uncle  Ben  has  been  in  Boston  the  past 
three  days,  procuring  its  outfit ;  and  yesterday 
it  was  brought  up  to  the  village  on  the  rail 
road." 

"  That's  why  you  would  not  tell  me  where 
he  was." 

"  It  is ;  I  thought  I  would  surprise  you.  Last 
night  after  dark  Uncle  Ben  and  I  rowed  it  up 
from  the  village." 

"  Wasn't  we  surprised,  though  ?  "  added  Frank. 

"I'll  bet  we  were,"  replied  Charles. 

"  What,  Charles,  more  of  your  inelegant 
speeches  ?  "  said  Captain  Sedley. 

Charles  blushed. 

"I  didn't  mean  to;  I  will  try  and  break  my 
self  of  that  habit." 

"Do;   it  is  a  foolish  practice." 


84  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  But,  father,  what  shall  we  do  with  her  ? 
Has  she  got  any  sails  ?  "  asked  Frank. 

"No,  my  son.  It  is  what  is  called  a  club 
boat.  It  is  pulled  by  twelve  oars.  In  Boston, 
and  a  great  many  other  places,  a  number  of  young 
men  form  themselves  into  a  little  society  for  the 
purpose  of  amusing  themselves  with  these  boats. 
You  perceive  it  is  built  very  long,  narrow,  and 
sharp,  so  as  to  attain  the  greatest  speed ;  and 
rowing  it  is  a  very  healthy  and  pretty  exercise, 
as  well  as  the  most  exciting  amusement." 

"  I  should  think  it  would  be ;  but,  father, 
can't  we  get  into  it,  so  as  to  see  what  it  is 
like?" 

"  Not  now.  To-day  is  Wednesday,  and  this 
afternoon  Uncle  Ben  shall  give  you  your  first 
lesson  in  rowing." 

"  Can  we  row  it  alone  ? "  asked  Frank, 
looking  perplexed  as  he  saw  the  twelve  row 
locks. 

"No,  Frank;  you  must  form  a  society,  a  club, 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  85 

as  they  do  in  the  city.  You  must  have  thirteen 
boys  ;  twelve  to  row,  and  one  to  steer." 

"  Hurrah !  won't  that  be  fine !  "  exclaimed 
Charles  with  enthusiasm. 

"  But,  boys,  you  must  be  careful  whom  you 
invite  to  join  the  club.  We  do  not  want  any 
bad  boys  —  especially  none  of  the  Bunkers." 

"Not  one  of   them,"  added  Charles  promptly. 

"Tony  shall  be  one,"  said  Frank. 

"Tony  is  a  good  boy,"  replied  Captain  Sed- 
ley. 

"  Fred  and  Sam  Harper,"  suggested  Charles. 

"They  are  very  well;  but  I  shall  leave  the 
selection  of  the  club  to  you,  boys,"  continued 
Captain  Sedley.  "I  am  going  to  have  a  boat- 
house  built  by  the  side  of  the  other  for  your 
boat,  and  in  one  end  of  it  will  be  a  room  for 
your  meetings." 

"  That  will  be  nice !  "  ejaculated  Charles. 
"Won't  we  have  the  fun!  " 

"You    must    make    a    kind    of    constitution; 


86  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

that  is,  some  regulations  for  the  government  of 
the  club." 

"  You  will  make  those  for  us,  won't  you, 
father?"  said  Frank. 

"  No ;  I  prefer  that  you  should  make  them 
yourselves." 

"We  don't  know  how." 

"  I  can  tell  you  something  about  it.  In  the 
first  place,  you  will  want  a  clerk  and  a  cox 
swain." 

"  A  what  ?  "  asked  both  boys  together. 

"A  coxswain.  When  you  sail  he  steers  the 
boat,  and  has  the  command.  He  is,  in  fact,  the 
captain.  When  you  hold  a  meeting,  he  will  be 
the  chairman." 

"  Who  will  be  coxswain  ? "  asked  Charles, 
with  a  look  of  inquiry  at  Frank. 

"You  will  choose  him  by  vote,  as  well  as  the 
clerk,"  answered  Captain  Sedley. 

"But  the  regulations,  father?" 

"  You  must  have  no  profanity,  no   lying,  no 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  87 

vulgar  language ;  and  no  boy  must  be  per 
mitted  to  neglect  his  school,  or  his  duties  at 
home,  on  account  of  the  boat." 

"We  can  fix  all  that,"  said  Charles. 

"I  intend  that  this  club  shall  be  a  society 
for  the  promotion  of  your  moral  welfare,  as 
well  as  a  means  of  amusement.  In  your  club- 
room  I  am  going  to  place  a  library  for  your 
use;  and  next  winter,  when  the  lake  is  frozen 
over,  you  can  meet  there  for  amusement  and 
instruction." 

"That  will  be  first-rate,"  added  Charles. 

"  What  time  shall  we  meet  this  afternoon, 
father  ?  " 

"  Two  o'clock,  say.  .  Now  go  to  your  break 
fasts,  and  get  ready  for  school.  Be  careful  and 
not  let  the  pleasure  you  anticipate  in  the  boat 
interfere  with  your  studies,"  said  Captain  Sed- 
ley,  as  the  boys  bounded  away  to  their  respec 
tive  homes. 

Frank  and  Charles,   on   their   way   to   school, 


88  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

decided  upon  the  boys  whom  they  should  invite 
to  join  the  club;  and  in  the  course  of  the  fore 
noon  they  were  asked  to  assemble  on  the  beach, 
without  being  told  the  precise  object  of  the 
meeting. 

The  boys'  heads  were  so  full  of  the  club 
boat  that  it  required  a  great  deal  of  courage 
to  enable  them  to  study  in  school  that  day ; 
but  so  closely  had  Captain  Sedley  connected 
the  idea  of  improvement  with  the  club,  that 
they  struggled  hard,  and  succeeded  in  getting 
"perfect  lessons." 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  89 


CHAPTER   VI 

THE  EMBABKATION 

AT  half-past  one  the  members  of  the  embryo 
boat  club  were  on  the  beach.  Those  who  were 
not  informed  before  their  arrival  of  the  nature 
of  the  "  time  "  in  store  for  them  were  in  ecsta 
sies  when  they  beheld  the  beautiful  boat  re* 
posing  so  lightly  and  gracefully  on  the  tranquil 
bosom  of  the  clear  lake.  None  of  them  had 
ever  seen  such  a  fairy  bark  before,  and  it  more 
than  realized  their  idea  of  the  airy  and  graceful 
craft  of  which  they  had  read  and  thought. 

Uncle  Ben  had  not  arrived  yet;  but  he  had 
evidently  been  there  during  the  forenoon,  for 
the  boat  had  been  taken  from  her  moorings, 
and  was  now  secured  by  a  line  attached  to  a 
stake  driven  in  the  sand. 


90  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

The  boys,  as  a  matter  of  course,  were  very 
impatient  to  take  their  first  lesson  in  rowing, 
and  to  skim  over  the  glassy  lake  in  the  splen 
did  barge  before  them. 

"Where  is  Uncle  Ben?"  asked  Charles,  hardly 
able  to  control  his  impatience. 

"  He  will  be  here  soon ;  it  is  not  two  o'clock 
yet,"  answered  Frank. 

"Don't  be  in  a  hurry,  Charley,"  added  Tony, 
who  had  seated  himself  upon  the  sand,  and 
considering  the  exciting  circumstances  of  the 
day,  demeaned  himself  like  a  philosopher. 

"I  am  so  anxious  to  get  a  peep  at  the 
inside  of  her,"  replied  Charles,  as  he  took  hold 
of  the  line  that  held  the  boat,  and  pulled  her 
towards  the  shore.  "Don't  you  think  he  will 
be  here  before  two  o'clock?" 

"  I  don't  know.  I  wouldn't  touch  her,  Char 
ley,"  said  Frank. 

"  See  how  she  shoots  ahead !  I  scarcely  pulled 
at  all  on  the  line." 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EI^PLETON  91 

The  light  bark,  under  the  impulse  of  Charles's 
gentle  pull,  darted  to  the  shore,  throwing  her 
sharp  bow  entirely  out  of  the  water. 

"  Don't,  Charley ;  you  will  scrape  the  paint 
from  her  keel  on  the  sand,"  interposed  Frank. 
"She  is  built  very  lightly,  and  my  father  says 
she  cost  him  four  hundred  dollars." 

"I  won't  hurt  her.  Just  twig  the  cushioned 
seats  in  the  stern,  and  see  all  the  brass  work 
round  the  sides  !  My  eyes,  how  it  shines  !  " 
exclaimed  Charles,  holding  up  both  hands  with 
delight. 

"  Just  see  the  oars !  "  added  Fred  Harper. 

"And  there  are  the  flags  rolled  up  in  the 
stern,"  said  another  boy. 

"  Won't  we  have  a  glorious  time !  "  continued 
Charles,  as  he  placed  one  foot  on  the  bow  of 
the  boat. 

"  Don't  get  in,  Charley ;  that  isn't  fair,"  in 
terposed  Tony  Weston. 

"It  won't  do  any  harm;  "  and  Charles  stepped 
into  the  beat. 


92  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

Half  a  dozen  other  boys,  carried  away  by 
the  excitement  of  the  moment,  followed  his 
example,  and  jumped  in  after  him.  Charles 
led  the  way  to  the  stern  of  the  boat,  walking 
over  the  seats,  or,  to  speak  technically,  the 
"thwarts." 

The  light  boat,  which  had  been  drawn  far 
out  of  the  water,  and  which  now  rested  her 
keel  upon  the  bottom,  having  no  support  upon 
the  sides,  rolling  over  on  her  gunnel,  and  tum 
bled  the  boys  into  the  lake. 

"  There !  Now  see  what  you  have  done !  " 
cried  Tony,  springing  up,  and  pushing  the  boat 
away  from  the  shore. 

"Avast,  there!  What  are  you  about?"  ex 
claimed  Uncle  Ben,  hobbling  down  to  the  beach 
as  fast  as  his  legs  would  carry  him. 

"You  are  too  bad,  Charley!"  said  Frank. 
"You  will  spoil  all  our  fun  by  your  impatience." 

"I  didn't  think  she  would  upset  so  easily," 
replied  Charles. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  93 

"Yt>u  ought  not  to  have  meddled  with  her." 

"That  you  hadn't,  youngster,"  said  Uncle 
Ben.  "Don't  you  know  a  boat  can't  stand 
alone  when  the  keel  is  on  the  sand  ?  " 

The  old  sailor  spoke  pretty  sternly,  and  Charles 
was  abashed  by  his  reproof. 

"  Forgive  me,  Uncle  Ben ;  I  didn't  mean  any 
harm." 

"  I  know  you  didn't,  Charley ;  but  you  must 
be  careful  always.  Live  and  larn,"  replied 
Uncle  Ben,  mollified  by  the  penitence  of  the 
boy. 

"She  won't  tip  over  again,  will  she?"  asked 
Frank. 

"  Not  if  you  handle  her  right ;  run  over  to 
that  rock  in  the  grove,  where  the  water  is 
deep,  and  I  will  bring  her  over." 

Uncle  Ben  unfastened  the  line,  and  wading 
out  a  little  way  into  the  lake,  jumped  in,  and 
rowed  over  to  the  rock. 

"Now,    my    lads,    you.    must    do    everything 


94  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OK, 

in  order.  We  don't  want  any  hurrying  and 
tumbling  about.  When  you  get  into  the  boat, 
step  easy,  and  keep  quiet  in  your  places,"  said 
Uncle  Ben,  as  he  brought  the  boat  alongside 
the  rock.  "  Fend  off,  there !  Don't  let  her 
rub !  " 

Tony,  who  was  by  far  the  coolest  and  most 
reliable  boy  of  the  party,  took  hold  of  the  boat, 
and  prevented  her  from  striking  the  rock. 

"Now,  Tony,  you  shall  be  bow  oarsman; 
that  is,  you  shall  pull  the  foremost  oar.  You 
may  get  in  first,  and  take  that  boat-hook  for 
ward.  Stop,  no  more  of  you  yet;  keep  perfectly 
cool !  " 

Tony  obeyed,  and  took  his  station  in  the  bow 
with  the  boat-hook  in  his  hand. 

"Now  hook  on  the  rock  with  it,  and  keep 
her  steady.  There,  that  will  do,"  continued 
Uncle  Ben,  taking  another  boat-hook  and  steady 
ing  the  stern.  "  Now,  one  at  a  time,  and  each 
of  you  take  one  of  the  seats." 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  95 

The  boys  were  so  impatient  that  they  could 
not  wait  to  get  in  as  the  old  sailor  directed; 
and  all  huddled  in  together,  to  the  imminent 
peril  of  their  lives  and  the  boat. 

"  Avast !  that  won't  do  !  Back,  all  of  you !  " 
roared  Uncle  Ben,  provoked  by  their  awkward 
ness.  "  Now,  Frank,  call  them  by  name,  one 
at  a  time,  and  let  each  take  his  place  before 
you  call  another." 

This  plan  worked  better.  Uncle  Ben  was  a 
firm  advocate  of  discipline,  and  insisted  on  hav 
ing  everything  done  in  "  shipshape  order,"  as 
he  styled  it.  He  had  been  in  the  United  States 
Navy,  and  was  familiar  with  its  discipline.  The 
boys  were  all  seated ;  and  finding  that  their 
hurry  and  impatience  only  retarded  their  prog 
ress,  they  learned  to  keep  still,  and  wait  till 
the  old  sailor  told  them  what  to  do. 

They  had  all  seated  themselves  on  one  side 
of  the  boat,  and  the  consequence  was  it  nearly 
tipped  her  over. 


96  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

"Now,  my  lads,  trim  ship.  You  are  all  over 
on  the  starboard  side,"  said  Uncle  Ben,  as  he 
pushed  the  boat  away  from  the  rock. 

The  boys,  in  their  eagerness  to  render  prompt 
obedience,  all  passed  over  to  the  opposite  ends 
of  the  thwarts,  and  the  boat  instantly  careened 
upon  the  other  side. 

"Avast  there!  Now  stop  a  bit,"  continued 
the  old  sailor.  "I  am  going  to  number  you 
all.  I  don't  know  your  names,  all  of  you ; 
so  just  mind  the  riggers.  Tony,  you  are  num 
ber  one ;  say  it." 

"  One,"  shouted  Tony,  with  a  pleasant  laugh. 

"The  boy  on  the  next  seat." 

"Two." 

"  Stop  a  bit ;  we  have  got  one  too  many. 
One  of  you  must  be  coxswain.  Cap'n  Sedley 
says  you  must  choose  him  by  vote.  Who  shall 
be  your  coxswain,  boys?" 

"Frank  Sedley,"  shouted  all  the  boys  to 
gether. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  97 

"  Good !  it  is  a  unanimous  vote,"  said  Uncle 
Ben.  "  You  desarve  the  honor,  Frank ;  take  a 
seat  in  the  starn-sheets.  Next  boy,  number." 

"Three." 

"Next." 

«  Four." 

"Five." 

The  boys  all  numbered,  with  the  exception 
of  Frank  Sedley,  who  was  not  to  pull  an  oar. 

"Now,  my  lads,  remember  your  numbers — - 
don't  touch  the  oars  yet.  You  have  got  a  good 
deal  to  larn  fust,"  continued  Uncle  Ben. 

"We  shall  be  good  scholars,"  said  Charles. 

"I  hope  you  will.  Now,  Tony,  take  your 
place  on  the  starboard  side,  opposite  the  row 
lock  over  to  port." 

Tony,  at  a  venture,  seated  himself  on  the 
forward  thwart. 

"Avast!    that's  the  larboard  side." 

"But,  Uncle  Ben,  we  don't  know  the  mean 
ing  of  those  words,"  added  Frank. 


98  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OB, 

"No  more  you  don't,"  answered  Uncle  Ben, 
hitching  up  his  trousers  and  laughing  good- 
naturedly.  "You  can  larn,  though,  if  you  pay 
'tention." 

"  We  will  try." 

"  This  side,  then,"  —  and  the  old  sailor  laid 
his  hand  upon  the  right-hand  side  of  the  boat, 
looking  towards  the  bow,  — "  this  is  the  star 
board  side." 

"The  right-hand  side  is  the  starboard  side," 
repeated  several  of  the  boys. 

"Number  five,"  said  Uncle  Ben,  calling  upon 
Charles  Hardy,  "which  is  the  starboard  side?" 

"  This,"  replied  Charles,  pointing  to  his  right. 

"No,  'tain't." 

"But  you  said  the  right-hand  side." 

"No,  I  didn't;  I  said  this  side,"  replied  the 
old  sailor,  laughing  at  the  boy's  perplexity. 
"It  is  the  right-hand  side  lookin'  for'ad.  Do 
you  understand  it  now?" 

"We  do,"  shouted  the  boys  together. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIP  P  LET  ON  99 

"Now,  who  can  tell  me  which  is  the  lar 
board  side  ?  " 

"The  left  looking  forward,"  replied  several. 

"Good,  my  hearties;  and  larboard  and  port 
mean  the  same  thing.  'Port'  is  more  used  now 
nor  larboard." 

"We  all  understand  it,"  said  Charles  Hardy. 

"You'll  forget  it,  ten  to  one,  before  to 
morrow." 

"No,  we  won't." 

"Now,  Tony,  take  the  starboard  side.  That's 
it.  Number  two,  the  port  side.  That's  right. 
Number  three,  the  starboard." 

The  boys  had  grown  more  tractable,  and 
Uncle  Ben  succeeded  in  getting  them  all  in 
their  proper  places.  The  boat  thus  trimmed  sat 
even  on  the  water,  and  the  boys  were  delighted 
with  this  change  in  her  position.  Most  of  them 
were  wholly  unaccustomed  to  boats,  and  the 
one-sided  posture  gave  them  a  sensation  of  un 
easiness  ;  but  while  they  saw  Uncle  Ben  and 


100  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

some  of  the  others  feeling  so  secure,  they  did 
not  like  to  acknowledge  their  timidity. 

"When  you  take  the  oars — not  yet  —  don't 
be  in  a  hurry.  Do  everything  calmly,"  said 
Uncle  Ben.  "You'll  never  larn  anything  if 
you  don't  go  to  work  shipshape." 

"But  what  shall  /  do?"  asked  Frank. 
"There  are  only  twelve  oars." 

"  Seat  yourself  square  in  the  starn,  my  boy." 

Frank  obeyed,  and  Uncle  Ben  shipped  the 
rudder.  Instead  of  a  tiller,  there  was  a  short 
piece  of  wood,  elegantly  carved  and  gilded, 
which  extended  crossways  with  the  boat.  At 
each  end  of  it  was  fastened  a  line,  by  means 
of  which  the  rudder  was  moved. 

"Take  the  tiller-ropes,  Frank,  and  keep  quiet 
till  we  get  ready  to  give  way,"  said  Uncle 
Ben,  as  he  seated  himself  by  the  side  of  the 
young  coxswain. 

"  We  are  all  ready,"  interposed  Charles  Hardy, 
by  way  of  hurrying  the  old  sailor's  movements. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIP  PL  ETON  101 

The  old  man  was  not  to  be  hurried;  and 
when  he  saw  what  an  excitement  the  boys  were 
in,  he  made  them  sit  still,  and  not  speak  a 
word  for  two  minutes. 


lt)2  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 


CHAPTER  VII 

GIVE   WAY   TOGETHER 

"No  hurry,  boys;  we've  got  the  whole  arter- 
noon  afore  us,"  said  the  old  salt,  when  he  had 
cooled  them  off.  "You've  got  some  things  to 
larn.  You  can't  row  yet  no  more'n  a  codfish 
can  go  up  a  ladder.  You  don't  know  how." 

"  I  think  we  can  row,  Uncle  Ben,"  said  Charles 
uneasily. 

"I  know  you  can't.  If  you  don't  want  to 
larn,  say  so,  and  I'll  make  the  boat  fast  to  the 
stake  again,"  added  the  old  boatman  sharply, 
as  though  he  meant  what  he  said. 

"  We  do  !  We  do  !  "  protested  the  boys  with 
one  voice. 

"  Then  be  quiet,  and  keep  your  ear-ports  wide 
open.  The  boy  next  to  the  bow  is  the  bowman. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  103 

The  stroke  oarsman  is  the  one  farthest  aft,  or 
nearest  the  starn.  Each  on  'em  has  a  boat-hook. 
Now  take  'em,  and  shove  her  off." 

The  two  boys  obeyed,  and  placing  the  point 
of  the  boat-hooks  against  the  rock,  shoved  off 
with  all  their  might ;  and  the  Zephyr  receded 
from  the  shore  till  the  wind  took  her,  and  drove 
her  out  under  the  lee  of  Centre  Island.  Here 
he  directed  Tony  to  throw  the  grapnel,  a  small 
anchor  with  four  flukes,  overboard,  as  much  to 
assure  the  impatient  oarsmen  that  there  was 
to  be  no  rowing  at  present,  as  to  hold  the  boat 
where  she  was. 

"Now,  boys,  I  want  you  to  larn  somethin', 
so  as  to  know  where  you  are.  Some  on  you 
better  write  it  down;  and  don't  forgit  it." 

Several  of  them  took  paper  and  pencils  from 
their  pockets,  and  were  ready  to  write  down 
what  was  said. 

"  The  for'd  part  of  the  boat  is  the  bow ;  also 
the  fore-sheets,"  continued  the  old  sailor.  "The 


104  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OE, 

after  part,  where  the  coxswain  sets,  is  the  starn- 
sheets.  The  middle  of  the  boat  is  the  waist. 
Enough  of  that  for  now.  Do  you  know  what 
an  oar  is?" 

"  Of  course  we  do,  Uncle  Ben !  "  shouted  the 
crew. 

"An  oar  has  three  parts,"  said  the  instructor. 

"  It  is  all  in  one  piece,"  added  one  of  the 
boys. 

"  So  is  your  head  all  in  one  piece ;  but  haven't 
you  got  any  nose,  ears,  and  chin.  An  oar  has 
three  parts,  —  the  blade,  the  loom,  and  the  handle. 
The  blade  is  the  part  you  put  in  the  water. 
The  handle  is  the  part  you  take  hold  of.  The 
loom  is  the  round  part  between  the  blade  and 
the  handle.  Can  you  remember  that  if  you 
haven't  writ  it  down?" 

"We  know  all  that  like  a  book,"  replied 
Fred  Harper. 

"  This  is  a  carvel-built  boat ;  that  is,  her 
planking  runs  fore  and  aft,"  Uncle  Ben  ex- 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  105 

plained,  using  gestures  to  indicate  the  direction. 
"  Planking  may  mean  boards  or  thinner  stuff. 
The  planks  are  jointed  at  the  edges  so  as  to 
fit.  close,  and  the  spaces  between  are  stuffed 
with  oakum,  which  is  called  calking.  A  clinker- 
built  boat  is  put  together  in  the  same  way,  but 
one  plank  laps  over  another;  and  we  generally 
call  this  kind  of  boat  a  lap-streak.  Now,  young 
sters,  we  are  going  to  take  the  oars  —  not  yet, 
till  you  know  how  to  do  it.  The  first  command 
of  the  coxswain  will  be  '  Up  oars !  '  They  lay 
now  across  the  thwarts." 

"  Across  what  ?  "  asked  one  of  them. 

"  The  thwarts :  lubbers  call  them  the  seats,"  re 
plied  the  old  seaman,  laughing.  "  You  set  back* 
wards  when  you  row,  all  facing  the  coxswain. 
Them  as  is  on  the  starboard  side  has  the  oars 
on  their  left.  Those  on  the  port  has  'em  on 
their  right,  just  where  you  will  put  them  when 
you  boat  your  oars  after  you  have  done  using 
them.  Now,  Frank,  you  will  give  the  first  com- 


106  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

mand-;  but  not  one  of  you  will  obey  it,  for  you 
don't  know  how." 

"  Up  oars  !  "  said  the  coxswain  in  a  command 
ing  tone. 

"  At  this  order,  you  will  pick  up  your  oars, 
and  hold  them  up  straight,  with  the  blades 
athwartships,  or  across  the  boat,"  the  instructor 
explained.  "  If  the  boat  were  at  a  landing,  or 
alongside  another  boat,  the  two  bowmen  and 
the  two  stroke  oarsmen  would  not  do  as  the 
others  do ;  for  it  would  be  their  duty  to  shove 
off,  and  get  the  boat  under  way.  Now  you 
may  try  it;  but  don't  hurry.  Give  the  order 
again,  Frank.  Stand  up  this  time,  so  that 
you  can  see  the  whole  length  of  the  boat." 

The  coxswain  rose  from  his  seat;  and  having 
no  little  natural  dignity,  he  did  it  very  grace 
fully,  and  was  not  at  all  flurried. 

"  Up  oars !  "  said  he  very  slowly,  pausing 
between  the  words. 

All  hands   made   a   dive,  as   it   were,  at   the 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          107 

oars,  and  stood  them  up  as  required.  But  they 
hit  each  other  in  the  back,  rapped  others  on 
the  head,  elevated  the  oars  so  that  there  was 
neither  order  nor  symmetry  in  the  movement, 
and  they  were  straggling  as  many  different 
ways  as  there  were  boys. 

"  Avast  there !  That  won't  do  at  all !  " 
shouted  Uncle  Ben.  "You  are  all  snarled  up, 
and  we  must  have  it  done  shipshape." 

He  seated  himself  on  the  after  thwart,  after 
he  had  required  them  to  boat  their  oars,  and 
proceeded  to  show  them  how  to  pick  them  up. 
He  went  forward,  and  repeated  the  movement. 
Then  he  made  several  of  them  do  it  alone. 
Next  four  of  them  did  it  together.  At  last  he 
believed  he  had  them  in  condition  to  execute 
the  manoeuvre  properly.  Then  he  called  upon 
Frank  to  give  the  order,  again,  and  this  time 
they  did  it  as  well  as  could  be  expected.  He 
was  not  satisfied,  and  compelled  the  oarsmen 
to  go  through  it  repeatedly  for  half  an  hour. 


108  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"Now  we  will  begin  again,"  said  Uncle  Ben. 
"  If  you  do  it  well,  we  will  go  on.  Give  the 
order,  Frank."  i' 

They  did  it  better  than  at  any  time  before; 
and  while  the  crew  sat  with  the  oars  elevated, 
the  old  sailor  proceeded  to  explain  the  next 
movement. 

"If  we  were  at  a  landing,  or  alongside  the 
sailboat,  you  would  remain  as  you  be  now,  till 
the  boat  was  clear  of  everything,  before  the  next 
order  would  come.  That  command  will  be  4Let 
fall  I  '  Then  you  will  let  your  oars  drop  upon 
the  water  all  at  once,  striking  it  at  just  the 
same  instant.  But  you  will  not  let  the  loom 
of  the  oar  touch  the  gunwale." 

"  Where  is  the  gunwale  ?  "  asked  one  of  the 
boys. 

"The  rail  along  the  top  of  the  boat  in  which 
the  rowlocks  are  set.  You  mustn't  let  an  oar 
touch  that.  Keep  hold  of  the  handle  with  the 
blade  on  the  water.  Then,  without  any  com- 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  109 

mand,  you  will  ship  the  oar;  in  other  words, 
drop  the  loom  into  the  rowlock.  Now  go 
through  that  again.  Steady,  and  don't  hurry. 
Do  it  in  about  the  time  the  stroke  oarsman 
gives  you." 

Frank  gave  the  commands  again,  beginning 
with  "  Up  oars !  "  till  the  oarsmen  had  shipped 
their  oars ;  and  it  was  very  well  done,  and 
Uncle  Ben  actually  praised  the  crew. 

"  The  next  command  is  '  Give  way  together !  ' 
said  the  old  sailor.     "You  will  take  the  time  from 
the  stroke  oar,  and  pull  with  it  all  the  time." 

Fred  Harper  was  the  aftermost  rower ;  and  the 
instructor  asked  him  to  vacate  his  seat,  which 
Ben  took  himself,  with  the  oar  in  his  hands. 

"  Now  carry  the  handle  of  the  oar  forward  to 
easy  arm's  length  towards  the  starn,"  continued 
Ben,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word;  and  all 
followed  his  example.  "  Drop  the  end  of  the 
oar  into  the  water  till  the  blade  is  just  covered, 
no  deeper.  Then  pause  a  bit,  and  pull  the 


110  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

handle  towards  you  to  your  breasts,  or  very 
nearly  there." 

The  crew  followed  the  instructions,  and  imi 
tated  the  old  seaman  till  they  had  taken  their 
first  stroke.  These  movements  were  repeated 
several  times,  till  they  could  do  them  well . 
Then  they  began  again  with  Frank  giving  the 
commands,  and  they  went  through  the  whole 
till  they  could  do  everything  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  teacher. 

"Now,  bowman,  you  may  weigh  the  anchor,'* 
said  Uncle  Ben;  and  the  hearts  of  the  boys  beat 
rapidly,  for  the  time  for  actual  rowing  had  come. 

Tony  Weston  hauled  in  the  grapnel,  and 
stowed  it  in  the  fore-sheets. 

"  Up  oars !  "  commanded  Frank,  rising  from 
his  seat ;  and  all  the  oars  were  elevated  in  good 
order,  though  not  quite  perfect.  "  Let  fall !  " 
he  continued;  and  this  movement  was  very 
well  done,  and  all  shipped  their  oars.  "Give 
way  together  I  " 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  111 

The  boat  began  to  move,  and  the  motion 
seemed  to  perplex  some  of  the  oarsmen.  A 
few  of  them  appeared  to  be  trying  to  touch 
bottom,  and  on  the  second  stroke  they  were 
in  a  snarl. 

"  Avast,  all !  "  shouted  Uncle  Ben.  "  This 
won't  do !  Some  of  you  act  as  though  you 
were  spearing  eels.  You  are  not  to  bury  your 
oar  in  the  water  above  the  blade  at  any  time. 
You  must  keep  the  flat  part  of  the  oar  up  and 
down  in  the  water  always.  If  you  turn  it  in 
pulling,  the  blade  will  shoot  up  into  the  air, 
or  dive  down  towards  the  bottom." 

Then  he  practised  them  for  a  full  half-hour 
on  this  step,  and  finally  brought  them  up  to  a 
very  handsome  stroke.  Then  Frank  gave  the 
commands  again,  and  they  pulled  passably  well. 
Directing  the  coxswain  to  head  the  Zephyr  up 
the  lake,  Ben  gave  his  attention  to  individuals, 
pointing  out  their  faults,  and  correcting  them. 
The  boat  seemed  to  be  as  light  as  a  feather; 


112  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OB, 

and  even  with  the  indifferent  rowing,  she  made 
tremendous  headway,  as  the  boys  thought.  She 
was  soon  at  the  head  of  the  lake. 

"Now,  boys,  we  have  to  stop  as  well  as  start 
her,"  said  the  teacher,  some  time  before  the  boat 
reached  the  head  of  the  lake,  where  the  river 
flowed  into  it;  uand  the  command  will  be, 
4  Stand  by  to  lay  on  your  oars !  '  But  that 
order  is  only  for  you  to  be  ready  to  do  it.  The 
next  command  will  be  4  Oars  ! '  The  last  order, 
Frank,  must  be  given  at  the  beginning  of  a 
stroke,  the  oars  being  in  the  water.  Then, 
boys,  you  will  level  your  oars,  all  in  a  straight 
line,  not  one  above  or  below  the  others;  and 
you  will  turn,  or  feather  them,  as  it  is  called, 
so  that  they  would  lie  flat  on  the  water  if 
dropped  down;  but  they  must  not  be  dropped 
down,  not  one  of  them.  Now  give  the  com 
mand,  Frank.  You  need  not  stand  up  to  do  it, 
unless  there's  an  emergency." 

"  Stand  by  to  lay  on  your  oars  I  "  called  the 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  113 

coxswain.  "  Oars !  "  he  added  after  a  short 
pause. 

This  movement,  like  the  others,  required  to 
be  done  several  times;  but  the  Zephyr  lost  her 
headway  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  On  the 
return,  the  young  oarsmen  were  instructed  in 
feathering  their  oars.  They  were  told  precisely 
how  to  turn  the  hands  so  as  to  bring  the  oar 
up  flatwise  as  it  came  out  of  the  water,  and 
how  to  reverse  the  motion  when  it  was  dipped 
for  the  stroke.  They  had  become  somewhat  ac 
customed  to  handling  the  oars,  and  Uncle  Ben 
warmly  commended  the  proficiency  they  made. 
Frank  had  headed  the  boat  for  Centre  Island; 
and  when  she  was  abreast  of  it,  Ben  called 
his  attention  to  the  fact  that  his  father  and 
mother  were  both  on  the  beach,  observing  the 
movements  of  the  Zephyr  and  her  crew. 

It  was  nearly  time  to  go  ashore ;  but  the  old 
sailor  gave  them  two  more  lessons,  —  one  from  lay 
ing  on  the  oars  to  holding  water  when  it  was  desi- 


114  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

rable  to  check  the  headway,  and  the  other  to  back 
the  craft  in  order  to  stop  the  headway  at  once. 

Ben  declared  that  the  club  had  done  exceed 
ingly  well  for  the  first  day  afloat,  and  now  they 
must  go  to  the  spot  where  Captain  and  Mrs.  Sed- 
ley  were  looking  at  them.  Frank  was  directed 
to  run  for  the  cottage  of  the  widow  Weston. 

"Now  we  must  give  the  captain  the  compli 
ment  of  tossing  oars  to  him,"  said  Ben  on  the 
way  over.  "  When  a  boat  in  the  navy  is  to 
meet  or  pass  one  containing  a  superior  officer, 
it  is  the  fashion  to  salute  him  with  a  toss  of 
the  oars  exactly  as  you  have  learned  to  do  it 
to-day." 

The  teacher  explained  it  more  in  detail;  and 
the  boat  headed  down  the  lake,  keeping  as  close 
to  the  shore  as  it  was  prudent  to  go. 

"  Stand  by  to  toss !  "  said  Frank,  prompted  by 
the  old  sailor.  "  Toss !  " 

The  oars  all  went  up  to  a  perpendicular,  with 
no  straggling  ones  among  them;  and  the  Zephyr 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  115 

had  headway  enough  to  keep  her  moving  a 
quarter  of  a  mile.  Captain  Sedley  took  off  his 
hat,  acknowledging  the  salute,  while  Mrs.  Sed 
ley  waved  her  handkerchief  very  vigorously. 
Then  the  oars  were  trailed  in  due  form,  and 
the  boat  went  up  to  the  flat  rock  where  they 
had  embarked.  Frank's  father  and  mother  came 
over  to  congratulate  the  boys  upon  the  profi 
ciency  they  had  made  in  a  single  afternoon. 
The  lady  then  invited  all  the  crew  and  Uncle 
Ben  to  visit  the  mansion,  where  they  found  a 
nice  collation  awaiting  them.  They  had  been  on 
the  lake  all  the  afternoon,  and  the  air  and  exer 
cise  had  given  them  excellent  appetites.  Neither 
the  captain  nor  his  wife  preached  to  them,  but 
talked  very  pleasantly  about  the  boat  and  the 
rowing.  They  took  their  leave  before  dark,  and 
a  dozen  families  knew  all  about  the  excursion 
before  bedtime. 


116  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OK, 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE   SECOND   LESSON 

IT  was  hard  work  for  the  boys  to  confine  their 
attention  to  their  studies  during  the  next  few 
days;  but  Frank  Sedley  made  a  severe  struggle 
to  do  so,  and  succeeded  very  well.  Perhaps  he 
accomplished  as  much  or  more  by  his  efforts  to 
induce  his  companions  not  to  be  carried  away 
by  the  fascinations  of  boating  as  by  the  efforts 
of  his  own  will.  It  was  plain  enough  that  his 
fether  would  not  permit  the  Zephyr  to  interfere 
with  the  studies  of  the  boys,  and  he  represented 
this  danger  very  strongly  to  his  friends.  They 
all  did  their  best  to  keep  their  minds  fixed  upon 
the  lessons,  and  they  made  a  reasonable  success 
of  their  efforts.  But  they  were  all  looking  for 
ward  to  Saturday  afternoon  with  eager  antici- 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  117 

pations ;  and  when  it  came,  they  were  at  the 
flat  rock  which  served  as  a  landing-place  half 
an  hour  before  the  appointed  time. 

The  Zephyr  was  there ;  and  so  was  Uncle 
Ben,  who  gave  them  all  a  pleasant  greeting, 
and  made  quite  a  long  speech  about  the  neces 
sity  of  keeping  cool,  and  not  spoiling  the  prac 
tice  of  the  club,  as  they  called  it,  though  it 
had  not  yet  been  organized,  by  their  foolish 
hurry  and  impatience.  They  all  promised  to  be 
as  cool  as  Nelson  at  Trafalgar;  and  no  doubt 
they  all  intended  to  keep  their  promise,  but 
the  fascination  of  working  the  new  boat  some 
times  proved  to  be  too  much  for  them. 

"Where  are  the  flags,  Uncle  Ben?  We 
haven't  put  them  up  yet,"  said  Frank. 

"Here  they  are,  my  boy,"  replied  the  old 
sailor,  taking  them  from  the  cushioned  seat  in 
the  stern-sheets.  "  The  blue  silk  one,  with  sil 
ver  stars  around  the  letter  4  Z,'  goes  in  the  bow. 
You'll  find  a  place  for  it  there,  Tony,  and  you 


118  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

may  put  it  up.  Here  is  the  American  flag,  and 
it  goes  in  the  starn.  You  will  find  a  place  for 
it,  Frank ;  put  it  there." 

The  two  boys  inserted  the  end  of  each  staff 
in  the  socket  prepared  for  it,  and  the  breeze 
spread  out  the  flags  to  the  great  delight  of  the 
juvenile  boatmen.  They  made  the  boat  look 
very  gay  and  jaunty,  and  seemed  to  give  the 
finishing  glory  to  the  beautiful  craft.  The  boys 
wanted  to  get  into  the  boat,  but  Uncle  Ben 
would  not  permit  one  of  them  to  do  so  ;  every 
thing  must  be  done  in  shipshape  order. 

"Now,  Frank,  you'll  take  your  place  in  the 
starn-sheets,  and  call  off  the  numbers,"  said  the 
instructor.  "Don't  jump,  boys,  like  you  was 
goin'  to  ketch  a  rabbit,  but  like  you.  was 
goin'  to  the  grocery  store  for  half  a  pound  of 
tea." 

"We  will  make  a  funeral  gait  of  it,"  added 
Fred  Harper. 

"Don't  you  do  so;  walk  nateral,  like  a  Chris- 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  119 

tian,  and  don't  hurry  a  bit,"  said  the  old  sailor. 
"If  you  are  in  such  a  flurry  as  you  were  yes 
terday,  I  cal'late  to  go  ashore  with  you,  and 
let  you  cool  off  for  three  days.  If  you  can't 
keep  cool,  you  can't  do  nothin'." 

"We'll  make  a  funeral  of  it,  Uncle  Ben," 
said  Joseph  Barton. 

"We  don't  want  no  funeral  on't.  Jest  be 
nateral;  that's  all.  We're  goin'  through  all  you 
lamed  the  other  day;  and  I  want  you  to  do  it 
jest  as  you  study  your  lessons  in  school.  Call 
off  the  numbers,  Frank." 

"  One ;  "  and  Tony  Weston  took  his  place. 

"  Two ;  "  and  Ned  Graham  took  his  seat. 

All  the  numbers  were  called,  and  all  the  crew 
were  then  in  their  places.  Ben  had  a  card  in 
his  hand  on  which  Fred  Harper  had  written  the 
name  of  every  boy  against  his  number,  so  that 
the  old  sailor  could  learn  whom  he  had  in  the 
boat. 

"Now,  youngsters,  look  on  your  thwarts,  and 


120  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

you  will  find  a  cross  on  'em,  a  small  chalk- 
mark.  Stand  up,  and  you  will  see  'em." 

They  all  obeyed  the  direction;  and  they  did 
it  very  quietly. 

"  Good,  boys !  You  did  that  very  well,  and 
none  of  you  didn't  fall  overboard.  You  see  the 
chalk-marks ;  and  they  are  not  in  the  middle  of 
the  thwart,  but  half-way  between  the  middle  and 
the  gunwale.  Set  down  on  the  mark.  That's 
it;  well  done.  You  are  put  over  nearer  one 
side  than  the  other  to  give  you  a  better  pur 
chase  on  your  oars.  You  are  toler'ble  cool  now, 
and  act  more  like  human  critters  than  you  did 
t'other  day,  and  we  are  ready  to  go  to  work. 
Mind  what  I  said  about  the  bow  and  stroke 
oarsmen.  Go  on,  Frank." 

"Stand  by!  "  said  the  coxswain. 

"  That  means  '  Ready !  '  as  the  sojers  use  the 
word,"  Uncle  Ben  explained.  "Here  at  the 
landing,  you  know  just  what's  comin'  next.  Go 
on,  Frank," 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  121 

"  Ready !  Up  oars !  "  continued  Frank,  mak 
ing  a  slight  pause  between  the  commands. 

"Good!  "  said  the  old  seaman.  "  The  captain's 
monkey  couldn't  do  it  half  as  well  as  that !  " 

"Keep  your  seat,  Ned  Graham,"  said  Tony 
in  a  low  tone,  when  the  other  bowman  was  go 
ing  to  take  his  oar. 

"  Shove  off !  "  Frank  commanded  while  all  the 
oars  were  still  up  in  the  air. 

Tony  and  Fred  Harper  took  the  boat-hooks, 
and  with  the  help  of  the  ones  next  to  them 
shoved  the  boat  far  away  from  the  rock. 

The  two  bow  and  the  two  stroke  oarsmen  ele 
vated  their  oars,  and  the  whole  twelve  were 
then  in  unison. 

"  Good  !  "  almost  shouted  the  teacher.  "  That 
was  done  beautiful !  Go  on,  Frank." 

"Stand  by!  "  said  Frank;  though  this  warn 
ing  command  is  not  often  used,  but  the  cox 
swain  wished  to  do  all  he  could  to  keep  the 
oarsmen  cool  and  collected.  "  Let  fall !  " 


122  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

The  blades  all  struck  the  water  as  one,  and 
not  a  single  one  touched  the  gunwale.  Not  one 
failed  to  ship  his  oar,  or  drop  it  into  the  row* 
lock. 

"You  all  act  like  you  had  been  made  over 
since  we  met  last,"  said  Ben,  rubbing  his  hands 
with  delight. 

"We  have  been  studying  up  this  thing,  Uncle 
Ben,"  Fred  Harper  explained.  "At  recess  every 
day  we  practised  it  together,  and  some  one  filled 
out  what  the  others  had  forgotten.  We  have 
tried  to  be  perfect." 

"  Glad  to  hear  it,  youngsters ;  and  you  have 
been  very  near  perfect  so  far.  Go  on,  Frank." 

"  Stand  by  !     Give  way  together !  " 

This  was  the  most  difficult  movement  of  the 
whole ;  but  the  boys,  for  this  reason,  had  prac 
tised  it  the  most  in  their  thoughts,  and  in  their 
dummy  rehearsals,  and  it  was  done  as  well  as 
the  others  had  been,  much  to  the  surprise  of 
Uncle  Ben,  who  had  been  sure  they  would  fail 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  123 

on  this  command.  They  did  not  fail,  and  caught 
the  stroke  as  well  as  though  they  had  been 
practising  for  a  month.  The  boat  went  off  at 
great  speed ;  and  Ben  had  hardly  a  word  of  fault 
to  find  with  the  rowing,  though  he  corrected 
some  of  the  individual  movements.  He  per 
mitted  the  crew  to  pull  the  whole  length  of 
the  lake ;  but  Frank,  prompted  by  Ben,  had 
slowed  them  down  to  the  measured  stroke  of 
the  cutter  of  a  man-of-war. 

"  Stand  by  to  lay  on  your  oars !  "  said  the 
coxswain,  when  the  boat  was  approaching  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  "  Oars  !  " 

The  crew  instantly  levelled  their  oars,  feather 
ing  the  blades.  Not  one  of  them  was  permitted 
to  touch  the  water.  This  manoeuvre  was  ex 
ecuted  quite  as  well  as  the  others  had  been, 
and  the  boys  were  praised  without  stint  by  the 
venerable  instructor. 

"  Give  way !  "  said  Frank,  always  prompted 
by  the  old  sailor  at  his  side  in  a  low  tone,  so 


124  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

that  most  of  the  oarsmen  believed  that  the  cox 
swain  acted  on  his  own  responsibility. 

"  Stand  by  to  toss !  "  he  continued.     "  Toss !  " 

The  oars  all  went  up  as  one,  the  handles  rest 
ing  on  the  bottom  of  the  boat. 

"  Let  fall !  "  Frank  proceeded  with  the  drill, 
and  with  only  a  very  short  pause  between  the 
two  commands;  but  the  oars  all  dropped  into 
the  water,  and  were  shipped  with  entire  unity. 
"  Give  way !  "  he  added ;  for  the  '  together '  is 
used  as  a  rule  only  when  the  boat  starts  from 
the  shore  or  another  craft. 

"Stand  by  to  hold  water!"  said  Frank  a 
little  later.  "  Oars !  " 

At  this  command  the  oarsmen  levelled  and 
feathered  their  oars. 

"  Hold  water !  "  and  the  boat  began  to  slow 
down. 

"Right  here  comes  in  another  command," 
said  Uncle  Ben.  "  You  hain't  heard  it  before ; 
but  it  is  often  needed  to  keep  you  from  run- 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  125 

nin'  into  a  boat,  a  wharf,  a  rock,  or  anything 
else.  The  command  is,  '  Starn  all ! '  When  you 
get  it,  you  must  pull  backwards.  It  comes  arter 
4  Hold  water !  '  as  you  are  doin'  now.  All 
ready !  The  command,  Frank." 

"  Stern  all !  "  said  the  coxswain  in  vigorous 
tones,  for  this  order  is  likely  to  be  given  in 
an  emergency. 

The  boys  made  rather  bad  work  of  rowing 
backwards  at  first,  and  it  was  necessary  for 
Uncle  Ben  to  drill  them  for  half  an  hour  be 
fore  they  could  do  it  as  well  as  their  other 
work.  But  they  were  attentive  and  patient; 
and  at  the  end  of  the  lesson  they  could  pick 
up  the  stroke  as  readily  as  the  forward  move 
ment,  even  when  the  manoeuvres  were  executed 
in  a  hurry,  for  it  is  generally  used  when  there 
is  need  for  haste. 

"  How  many  more  things  are  there  to  learn, 
Uncle  Ben?"  asked  number  five,  who  was 
Charles  Hardy. 


126  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

The  old  salt  removed  his  tarpaulin,  scratched 
his  bald  head,  and  said  only  two.  The  boys 
lay  on  their  oars,  as  it  is  called  when  they 
are  levelled. 

"Starboard  oars — back!  "  said  Frank.  "Port 
oars  —  ahead !  Give  way !  " 

Some  began  to  put  the  oars  as  directed  in 
the  first  command,  and  Ben  stopped  them,  tell 
ing  them  to  wait  for  the  second ;  and  it  was 
done  over  again  two  or  three  times.  Of  course 
the  Zephyr  whirled  round  like  a  top,  and  was 
left  headed  down  the  lake. 

"  The  next  new  thing  is  to  trail  your  oars, 
which  is  sometimes  needed  when  the  boat  has 
to  go  through  a  narrow  place.  Sometimes  trail- 
lines  are  used.  They  are  bits  of  cord,  say 
two  feet  long,  one  end  made  fast  to  the  loom 
of  the  oar,  and  the  other  to  the  gunwale  of 
the  boat.  If  you  let  go  the  handle  of  the  oar 
it  will  be  dragged  alongside  the  boat  in  the 
water;  but  we  don't  need  trail-lines.  To  trail, 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  127 

the  commands  are,  4  Stand  by  to  trail!'  and 
4  Trail !  '  At  the  second  you  will  throw  the 
loom  of  the  oar  out  of  the  rowlock,  and  let 
it  drag  in  the  water;  but  you  mustn't  let  go, 
or  you  will  lose  it.  Now  go  ahead,  Frank, 
and  when  the  boat  is  making  five  knots  give 
the  commands  to  trail." 

"Five  knots?"  repeated  the  coxswain. 

"  A  knot  is  a  sea-mile ;  but  I  mean  when 
she  is  going  along  at  fair  speed." 

Frank  gave  the  orders  to  go  ahead  in  proper 
form,  and  the  Zephyr  was  soon  making  more 
than  six  knots  an  hour. 

"  Stand  by  to  trail !  "  said  the  coxswain. 
"Trail!" 

This  was  a  simple  manoeuvre,  and  the  oars 
men  did  it  right  the  first  time  trying;  but  to 
make  sure  of  it,  the  movement  was  again  exe 
cuted. 

"  Come  about,  and  go  up  the  lake  again,'1 
said  Uncle  Ben. 


128  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OB, 

"  Ship  your  oars !  Starboard  oars,  back ! 
Port  oars,  ahead !  "  Frank  commanded ;  but  no 
one  moved  an  oar.  "  Give  way !  "  and  the  boat 
came  about,  the  rowers  laying  on  their  oars. 

"  Very  well  done !  "  exclaimed  Uncle  Ben. 

The  coxswain  gave  the  commands,  and  the 
boat  went  ahead  again  up  the  lake.  Near 
the  mouth  of  the  river  was  a  small  island,  on 
the  north  side  of  which  (the  lake  extending 
east  and  west)  was  a  long,  flat  rock,  like  the 
one  where  they  had  embarked. 

"Now,  my  boys,  I  have  come  to  my  last  les 
son;  and  it  will  be  making  a  landing  on  that 
flat  rock.  When  the  coxswain  is  ready  to  stop 
the  boat,  the  command  is  'Way  enough!'  When 
you  get  it,  you  will  cease  rowing,  and  toss  the 
oars  without  any  command.  Here  the  coxswain 
comes  to  the  end  of  his  rope,  and  the  stroke 
oarsman  picks  it  up.  Fred  Harper  may  say 
4  Toss !  '  or  wave  his  right  hand,  and  you  will 
all  boat  your  oars,  or  put  them  in  place  on  the 


TEE  BUNKEES  OF  EIPPLETON  129 

thwarts,  in  good  time  with  him.  Now  try  it  on, 
Frank." 

The  young  officer  of  the  boat  had  headed 
her  to  the  island  as  soon  as  it  was  mentioned. 

"  Way  enough !  "  said  he,  when  he  thought 
the  boat  was  near  enough. 

The  oars  all  went  up  as  one,  and  Fred  waved 
his  hand  as  he  deposited  his  oar  on  the  thwarts 
in  concert  with  the  other  eleven.  Ben  said  it 
was  well  done,  but  might  be  better  done,  and 
it  was  repeated. 

"If  you  were  going  into  a  boat-house,  which 
you  will  soon  have,  or  alongside  another  vessel, 
the  coxswain  should  give  the  command,  'In 
bows ! '  Then  the  two  bowmen  will  boat  their 
oars,  and  take  the  boat-hook.  You  may  give 
that  command  next  time,  Frank,"  said  Uncb 
Ben. 

The  boat  backed  away  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  island,  and  then  went  through  the 
manoeuvre  again.  The  teacher  said  it  was  per- 


130  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

feet;  and  Tony  fended  off  with  the  boat-hook 
as  the  boat  came  to  the  rock,  and  Fred  stood 
ready  to  haul  in  the  stern. 

"Now,  boys,  ynu  may  laud  and  rest  your 
selves,"  said  the  instructor. 

The  rowers  were  not  tired  they  protested, 
but  they  went  on  shore.  They  did  not  stay  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  on  the  island ;  and  as  soon 
as  they  had  embarked,  the  old  sailor  took  the 
American  flag  from  the  socket,  and  waved  it 
above  his  head  as  soon  as  the  boys  were  seated. 

"Now,  my  lads,  three  cheers  for  the  Ameri 
can  flag.  One  !  " 

"Hurrah!" 

"Two!" 

"Hurrah!" 

"  Three !  " 

"Hurrah!" 

"  And  long  may  it  wave !  "  added  Uncle  Ben 
heartily,  as  he  put  the  flag  back  in  its  place. 
"Boys,  can't  you  sing?" 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  131 

"We  sing  in  school,"  replied  several. 

"Sing  me  a  song,  then,  before  we  get  under 
way." 

"What  shall  we  sing?" 

"Anything  you  please." 

" 4  Canadian  Boat  Song,'  "  suggested  Frank. 

"Ay,  ay,  give  us  that." 

Fred  Harper  was  a  good  singer,  and  started 
the  song.  The  boys  all  joined  in;  and  Uncle 
Ben  was  so  pleased  when  they  had  finished  it, 
that  he  begged  them  to  sing  it  again.  They 
cheerfully  complied,  and  the  old  man  listened 
to  the  repetition  with  the  most  intense  delight. 

"Now,  boys,  I  will  sing  you  a  sea  song." 

"Hurrah!  do,  Uncle  Ben,"  exclaimed  Charles. 

Uncle  Ben's  voice  was  somewhat  cracked;  but 
he  rendered  with  tolerable  effect  the  song, — 

*°Twas  in  the  good  ship  Rover, 

I  sailed  the  world  around; 
For  twenty  years  and  over, 
I  ne'er  touched  British  ground." 


132  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"Bravo,  Uncle  Ben.  Fred  Harper,  can't  you 
give  us  Ben  Bolt  and  Sweet  Alice?  I  am  sure 
Uncle  Ben  will  like  it." 

"I  will  try,"  replied  Fred. 

"We  will  join  the  chorus." 

The  song  was  sung,  and  the  old  sailor  shed 
a  tear  over  "Sweet  Alice,  so  young  and  so 
fair." 

"  Here  comes  father  in  the  sailboat,"  cried 
Frank,  as  he  discovered  Captain  Sedley  ap 
preaching  in  his  pleasure  yacht. 

"Ay,  beating  up  agin  the  wind." 

"Can't  we  have  a  race  with  him?"  askecj 
Charles  Hardy. 

"Sartin,  if  you  like.  There  is  a  fresh  breeze 
springing  up." 

"  The  boys  waited  patiently  until  Captain 
Sedley  reached  the  spot. 

"How  do  you  like  your  craft,  boys?"  asked 
he,  as  he  threw  his  boat  up  into  the  wind, 
alongside  the  Zephyr. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  133 

"  Firstriate !  "  they  exclaimed  with   one  voice. 

"  Three  cheers  for  Captain  Sedley,"  cried 
Tony  Weston,  taking  off  his  cap  and  swinging 
it  round  above  his  head.  "  One !  " 

"Hurrah!" 

«  Two !  " 

"Hurrah!" 

"Three!" 

"  Hurrah !  "  and  the  boys  all  clapped  their 
hands  for  several  moments. 

Captain  Sedley  took  off  his  hat,  and  politely 
returned  his  acknowledgments.  When  boys  get 
to  cheering,  they  hardly  know  where  to  stop; 
and  when  Fred  Harper  proposed  three  for  Uncle 
Ben,  there  was  a  prompt  and  hearty  response 
to  the  call. 

"I'm  much  obleeged  to  you,  boys,  for  the 
compliment,"  said  the  veteran,  pulling  off  his 
tarpaulin. 

"Now  for  the  race,"  cried  Charles. 

Uncle   Ben  explained  the  wishes  of  the  boys 


134  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

to  Captain  Sedley;  and  he  readily  agreed  to  a 
trial  of  speed,  -with  the  remark  that  he  should 
expect  to  be  beaten. 

"Let  me  get  my  boat  under  good  headway 
before  you  start,"  continued  he,  as  he  hauled  aft 
his  jib-sheet,  and  brought  the  boat  before  the 
wind. 

The  boat's  crew  waited  till  he  had  got  nearly 
the  eighth  of  a  mile  from  them,  and  then,  with 
all  the  forms,  the  Zephyr  got  under  way.  Uncle 
Ben  had  taught  them  to  keep  time  in  rowing 
by  the  swaying  back  and  forth  of  the  cox 
swain's  body. 

"  Don't  get  excited,  boys ;  the  wind  is  fresh 
ening,"  said  Uncle  Ben.  "  Steady,  now." 

The  Zephyr  darted  like  an  arrow  through 
the  water  under  the  impetus  of  the  twelve  oars. 
Frank,  in  his  anxiety  to  win  the  race,  began  to 
sway  to  and  fro  so  rapidly  that  Uncle  Ben  was 
obliged  to  caution  him  several  times  to  keep 
cool. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  135 

"We  are  overhauling  him  very  rapidly,"  said 
he  ;  "if  you  pull  regular,  and  save  your  strength, 
you  will  pass  him  before  you  get  half  way  to 
the  beach.  Steady,  Frank;  don't  hurry  them." 

The  boys  pulled  steadily;  and,  as  the  old 
sailor  had  predicted,  they  passed  Captain  Med 
ley's  boat  long  before  they  came  to  the  beach. 
As  the  Zephyr  shot  past  him,  a  long,  loud 
cheer  burst  from  her  crew. 

"  Isn't  this  fun  !  "  exclaimed  Charles  Hardy. 

"  Glorious  !  "  replied  Phil  Barker,  who  was  at 
the  next  oar  before  him. 

"What  do  you  think  the  Bunkers  would  say 
if  they  should  see  us  about  this  time  ?  " 

"Wouldn't  they  stare!" 

"Way  enough!"  said  Frank;  and  the  boys 
ceased  rowing,  while  the  boat  continued  to  shoot 
through  the  water  with  scarcely  diminished  velo 
city. 

"  There  are  the  Bunkers  on  their  raft,"  said 
Tony  Weston,  pointing  down  the  lake. 


136  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

All  eyes  were  turned  in  the  direction  indicated 
by  the  speaker. 

"  You  can  pull  down  by  them,  if  you  like," 
added  Uncle  Ben. 

"  Give  way !  "  said  Frank. 

The  Zephyr  darted  down  the  lake,  and  in  a 
few  moments  was  within  hail  of  the  raft. 

"Not  a  word  to  them,"  said  Uncle  Ben. 

"  Can't  we  cheer  them  once  ?  "  asked  Charles. 

"Yes,  if  you  can  keep  good-natur'd  about  it." 

"We  can." 

The  club  boat  shot  by  the  raft,  on  which  the 
wondering  Bunkers  stood  like  so  many  statues. 

"  Way  enough !  "  said  Frank.  "  Now  for  three 
cheers." 

They  were  given;  but  the  Bunkers  were  too 
much  bewildered  by  the  appearance  of  the  gor 
geous  boat,  with  its  silken  flags  and  bright 
colors,  its  gilded  name  and  its  graceful  shape, 
to  heed  the  cheers  of  the  club. 

"Give  way!  "  said  Frank;  and  under  the  di- 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  137 

rection  of  Uncle  Ben,  he  managed  the  helm  so 
as  to  make  the  Zephyr  describe  a  graceful  semi 
circle  round  the  raft. 

"Five  o'clock,'*  said  the  old  sailor;  "we 
must  go  ashore." 

Frank  steered  for  the  rock,  and  they  came 
alongside  in  due  form ;  Tony  "  fended  off  "  with 
the  boat-hook  when  they  reached  it,  and  the 
club  separated  for  the  night,  leaving  the  boat  in 
charge  of  Uncle  Ben. 


138  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE   STOLEN   WALLET 

AT  school  the  next  day,  the  club  boat  was 
the  principal  topic  of  conversation  among  the 
boys.  Those  who  had  been  invited  to  join  the 
club  were  regarded  as  especially  fortunate. 
Frank  Sedley  was-  a  distinguished  personage, 
and  even  Tim  Bunker  unbent  himself  in  some 
measure  from  his  ferocious  dignity  in  his  at 
tempts  to  conciliate  him. 

"I  say,  Frank,  you  will  give  me  a  sail  in 
your  boat,  won't  you  ?  "  said  Tim. 

"I  should  be  very  glad  to  accommodate  you, 
but  I  don't  think  my  father  will  let  me  take 
any  boys  who  do  not  belong  to  the  club." 

"Can't  I  join  the  club?" 

"It  is  full  now." 


THE  BUNKEES  OF  RIPPLETON  139 

"  You  can  just  make  room  for  one  more  if 
you  have  a  mind  to." 

"There  are  only  twelve  oars." 

The  school-bell  rang  then,  and  Frank  was 
glad  to  escape  further  importunity  on  the  sub 
ject.  Tim  Bunker  was  dissatisfied  with  himself 
and  everybody  else.  He  had  seen  the  magnifi 
cent  boat  which  Frank  owned,  and  in  which  he 
and  his  companions  had  had  such  a  glorious  time 
on  the  preceding  afternoon.  He  envied  them  the 
possession  of  the  Zephyr,  and  he  would  have 
given  anything  to  be  permitted  to  join  the 
club.  Perhaps  he  would  even  have  promised 
to  become  a  better  boy,  for  he  keenly  felt 
the  weight  of  those  moral  obliquities  which  ex 
cluded  him  from  the  society  of  Frank  and  his 
friends. 

But  more  especially  did  he  envy  Tony  Weston 
his  good  luck  in  getting  into  the  club ;  for 
Tony's  admission  was  abundant  evidence  that 
the  social  standing  of  the  boys  had  not  been 


140  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

taken  into  consideration.  There  was  no  rich  and 
poor  about  it ;  it  was  good  and  evil  entirely. 
And  Tim  had  always  cherished  a  strong  feeling 
of  dislike,  and  even  hatred,  towards  the  poor 
widow's  son,  undoubtedly  because  he  was  a 
good  boy,  and  everybody  liked  him.  He  had 
not  forgotten  Tony's  interference  on  the  island, 
when  he  was  about  to  thrash  Frank  Sedley; 
and  among  the  Bunkers  he  expressed  his  inten 
tion  to  be  fully  revenged. 

At  recess  Frank,  Charles,  and  Tony  went  up 
to  a  neighbor's  house  close  by  to  get  some  water. 
When  they  had  drunk,  and  were  passing  through 
the  woodhouse  to  return,  Charles  observed  an 
old  wallet  lying  on  a  bench. 

"  Twig !  "  said  he  in  his  peculiar  style. 

"That  must  be  Farmer  Whipple's,"  replied 
Tony. 

"Probably  the  farmer  laid  it  down  when 
he  was  paying  somebody  some  money,"  added 
Frank. 


THE  EUNKEES  OF  EIPPLETO^  141 

"I  will  carry  it  to  him,"  said  Charles.  "He 
is  out  in  the  garden." 

"  Don't  meddle  with  it,"  answered  Tony. 
"  We  will  see  him,  and  tell  him  it  is  here." 

"But  somebody  might  steal  it  in  the  mean 
time." 

"  Nobody  will ;   I  wouldn't  meddle  with  it." 

The  boys  walked  off  towards  the  schoolhouse, 
but  they  did  not  find  the  farmer  in  the  garden. 

"He  was  here  when  we  came  up,"  said  Tony. 
"  I  will  find  him ;  "  and  he  walked  towards  the 
barn,  while  Charles  and  Frank  continued  on 
their  way. 

Tony  looked  all  about  the  premises,  but 
he  did  not  find  the  farmer.  Returning  to 
the  woodhouse,  he  found  that  the  wallet  was 
gone. 

"Hello,  Tony,"  said  Tim  Bunker,  at  this 
moment  entering  the  woodhouse,  and  going  to 
the  well  for  a  drink. 

"Have  you  seen  Farmer  Whipple,  Tim?" 


142  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

"Yes;  he  just  went  into  the  house,"  replied 
the  chief  of  the  Bunkers. 

"Which  way  did  he  go  in?" 

"Right  through  this  way.  He  was  just  ahead 
of  you  when  you  came  from  the  barn." 

"Oh,  was  he?"  said  Tony,  much  relieved. 

The  farmer  had  taken  his  wallet  then  as  he 
passed  through,  and  he  was  satisfied  it  was  all 
right. 

"  I  say,  Tony,  what  were  you  doing  out  to 
the  barn  ?  Hooking  eggs,  eh  ?  " 

"I  was  not,"  answered  Tony  indignantly. 

"Honor  bright?" 

"  I  am  not  a  thief." 

"I'll  bet  you  ain't,"  drawled  Tim,  placing 
his  thumb  against  his  nose,  and  wagging  his 
four  fingers  back  and  forth. 

Tony  heard  the  school-bell  ring,  and  waiting 
for  no  more,  ran  off  with  all  his  speed.  Tim 
was  so  late  that  Mr.  Hyde,  the  master,  gave 
him  a  sharp  reproof  for  loitering  by  the  way. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  143 

Tim  Bunker's  seat  was  next  to  Tony's ;  and 
though  the  former  persisted  in  annoying  him, 
whispering  in  his  ear  something  about  "sucking 
eggs,"  he  tried  to  be  patient  and  good-natured. 
But  at  last,  when  he  could  endure  it  no  more, 
he  informed  against  him. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  ' sucking  eggs,* 
Tim  ? "  asked  Mr.  Hyde,  after  he  had  called 
him  on  the  platform. 

"  I  saw  Tony  skulking  round  Farmer  Whip- 
pie's  barn  at  recess." 

"Did  you  see  him  have  an  egg?" 

"No,  sir;  but  I  thought  he  had  been  eating 
something." 

Mr.  Hyde  investigated  the  case  fully,  and 
Tim  got  punished  for  his  conduct  in  annoying 
his  schoolmate. 

School  was  dismissed  as  usual,  and  the  boys 
went  home.  In  the  afternoon  Tony  had  somo 
work  to  do,  and  did  not  come. 

A   few   minutes    after    two,    when    the    boys 


144  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

were  all  in,  Farmer  Whipple  entered  the  room, 
apparently  in  a  high  state  of  excitement. 

"Where  is  Tony  Weston?"  said  he. 

"He  is  absent  this  afternoon,"  replied  Mr. 
Hyde. 

"I  lost  my  pocket-book  this  morning." 

"Indeed!" 

"I  saw  Tony  Weston  and  the  Bunker  boy  in 
the  woodshed  a  little  before." 

"  It  was  Tim  Bunker,  then,"  added  Mr. 
Hyde  in  a  low  tone. 

"  I  think's  likely,"  continued  Farmer  Whipple ; 
"but  Tony  was  there  too." 

"I  will  state  the  case,  and  see  if  the  boys 
know  anything  about  it,"  said  the  master. 

Mr.  Hyde  called  the  attention  of  the  boys 
by  ringing  a  little  bell  on  his  desk,  and  then 
mentioned  the  loss  which  Farmer  Whipple  had 
met  with. 

"If  any  scholar  knows  anything  about  it,  let 
him  signify  it." 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  145 

Frank  and  Charles  raised  their  hands. 

"Frank?" 

"I  saw  a  black  wallet  lying  on  the  bench 
when  we  went  up  after  some  water." 

"Who  were  with  you?" 

"Tony  and  Charles." 

"Any  one  else?" 

"No,  sir." 

"Why  did  you  not  take  charge  of  it,  and 
give  it  to  Mr.  Whipple?" 

"Tony  thought  we  had  better  not  touch  it, 
and  we  decided  to  tell  Mr.  Whipple  it  was 
there  as  we  went  through  the  garden." 

"But  you  didn't  tell  me,"  said  the  farmer. 

"No,  sir;  we  didn't  find  you  in  the  garden 
when  we  came  back,  and  Tony  went  to  look 
for  you  while  we  continued  on  our  way." 

"Has  Tony  said  anything  to  you  about  it 
since?"  asked  Mr.  Hyde. 

"Yes,  sir;  he  told  us  after  school  that  he 
didn't  find  Mr,  Whipple,  and  when  he  went 


146  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

back  to  the  woodhouse,  the  wallet  was  gone. 
He  met  Tim  Bunker  there,  who  told  him  the 
owner  had  just  gone  in  that  way." 

"Now  I  think  on't,  I  paid  a  little  bill,  and 
I  recollect  of  laying  the  wallet  down  on  the 
wash-bench,"  said  Farmer  Whipple. 

"And  Tim  Bunker  was  there?"  asked  the 
master. 

"Not  while  we  were,"  replied  Charles. 

"Tim?" 

"Sir,"  answered  the  chief  of  the  Bunkers 
promptly. 

"Do  you  know  anything  about  this  wallet ?w 

"  Don't  know  nothing  about  it." 

"Were  you  up  there?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"You  saw  Tony  there?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  when  I  was  going  up,  I  saw  him 
come  out  of  the  barn  and  go  into  the  wood- 
house." 

"Did  you  see  Mr.  Whipple?" 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  147 

"No,  sir." 

Frank  and  Charles  looked  at  each  other. 
Tim's  story  differed  from  Tony's. 

"  You  saw  Tony  in  the  woodshed  ?  " 

"When  I  went  in,  he  was  tucking  away 
something  in  his  pocket." 

Tony's  friends  were  utterly  confounded  by 
this  bold  statement. 

"You  didn't  see  what  it  was,  did  you?"  in 
quired  Mr.  Hyde,  pained  by  the  turn  the  affair 
was  taking. 

"I  didn't.  I  thought  it  was  an  egg  at  first. 
He  was  kind  of  struck  up  when  I  entered,  and 
asked  me  if  I  had  seen  Farmer  Whipple.  I  told 
him  I  hadn't.  The  bell  rang  then,  and  he  cut 
away  to  school." 

Tim's  story  seemed  plausible,  but  the  master 
could  not  harbor  a  suspicion  that  Tony  was 
guilty  of  theft. 

"Which  pocket  was  it,  Tim?"  asked  Farmer 
Whipple. 


148  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

ftlThe  side  pocket  of  his  linen  sack." 

"Which  side?" 

"The  left-hand  side." 

"That  will  do,"  said  Mr.  Hyde;  and  he  and 
Mr.  Whipple  conferred  on  the  subject. 

Frank  was  amazed.  Tony  steal  the  wallet! 
Impossible !  He  never  could  do  such  a  thing. 

The  conference  ended,  and  Farmer  Whipple 
left  the  schoolroom.  Returning  to  his  house,  he 
harnessed  his  horse,  and  drove  down  to  Squire 
Murdock's,  the  magistrate,  to  procure  a  warrant 
for  the  arrest  of  Tony.  This  he  obtained; 
and  after  getting  a  constable  to  serve  it,  he 
drove  to'  the  widow  Weston's. 

Tony  was  in  the  garden  picking  some  cur 
rants  to  sell  the  following  morning.  He  was 
hard  at  work,  and  his  coat  lay  upon  a  bush 
near  him. 

Farmer  Whipple  and  the  constable  jumped 
over  the  fence  and  approached  him. 

"How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Whipple?"  said  Tony, 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          149 

suspending  his  occupation.  "  How  do  you  do, 
Mr.  Headley?" 

"  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you,  Tony ;  but  we've 
got  some  suspicions  agin  you,"  began  Farmer 
Whipple. 

"  Against  me  !  "  exclaimed  Tony,  with  a  glance 
at  the  constable. 

"Sorry  for  it,  but  it  looks  bad  agin  you.'* 

"  What  have  I  done  ? "  asked  the  poor  boy, 
alarmed  by  the  words  of  the  farmer. 

"I  lost  my  wallet  this  morning,  and  Tim 
Bunker  says  he  saw  you  tucking  something 
into  your  pocket,"  replied  Farmer  Whipple,  pro 
ceeding  to  detail  all  the  circumstances. 

"  I  am  innocent  I  "  pleaded  Tony. 

"But  you  were  there?" 

"  I  was  there  ;  "  and  Tony  told  his  story  just 
as  he  had  related  it  to  Frank  Sedley. 

"  All  that  may  be ;  but  you  see,  Tony,  things 
are  against  you.  Tim's  story  is  as  straight  as 
can  be.  This  is  your  coat,  ain't  it?" 


150  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OB, 

"Yes;  you  can  examine  that,  and  search  the 
house  if  you  like." 

The  constable  took  the  coat.  The  pockets 
were  filled  with  various  articles  known  in  the 
vocabulary  of  a  schoolboy.  Mr.  Headley  thrust 
his  hand  in,  and  Tony  confidently  waited  the 
result.  Several  things  were  taken  out  and  re 
turned.  It  was  not  in  that  pocket. 

But  the  first  thing  the  constable  drew  out  of 
the  other  pocket  was  Farmer  Whipple's  wallet  I 

"No  use,  Tony,"  said  Mr.  Headley. 

"  I  did  not  know  it  was  there ;  I  did  not  put 
it  there !  "  protested  the  poor  boy,  whose  face 
was  as  white  as  a  sheet. 

"You  must  come  with  me,  Tony;  I  never 
would  have  believed  it,"  said  the  constable. 

The  widow  Weston  was  called,  and  a  state 
ment  of  the  case  made  to  her.  Poor,  loving, 
devoted  mother!  her  heart  was  wrung  with 
agony.  But  there  was  a  consolation  for  her. 
Tony  could  not  be  a  thief.  He  was  innocent, 


I  DID  NOT  KNOW  IT  WAS  THERE.      P,   150, 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          151 

she  was  sure,  however  strong  appearances  might 
point  to  his  guilt.  < 

The  constable  took  him  into  the  wagon ;  and 
Farmer  Whipple  drove  off  to  the  Rippleton  jail, 
which  was  located  in  the  village.  Tony  had 
never  in  his  life  been  so  utterly  cast  down  as 
when  he  looked  into  the  cell  to  which  he  was 
conducted.  But  he  realized  that  he  was  not 
guilty,  and  this  feeling  made  the  prison  less 
terrible  to  him. 


152  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 


CHAPTER  X 
TONY'S  CASE 

No  one  of  all  Tony's  numerous  friends  was 
more  surprised  at  the  accusation  made  against 
him  than  Captain  Sedley.  Like  all  who  were 
familiar  with  the  past  life  of  the  brave  little 
fellow,  he  was  incredulous.  The  very  fact  that 
Tim  Bunker  was  near  at  the  time  of  the  al 
leged  theft  seemed  to  be  sufficient  to  clear  him. 
The  finding  of  the  wallet  in  his  pocket  was 
the  most  unaccountable  piece  of  testimony  that 
had  been  adduced  against  him.  It  did  not  seem 
probable  that  it  would  have  remained  so  long 
in  his  pocket  unknown  to  him,  if  any  one  had 
been  so  wicked  as  to  place  it  there. 

As  soon  as  the  wagon  which  bore  Tony  a 
prisoner  to  the  Bippleton  jail  had  gone,  Mrs. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  BIPPLETON  153 

Weston  put  on  her  bonnet,  and  hastened  over 
to  Captain  Sedley's  house.  She  was  sure  of 
finding  assistance  there.  She  was  so  confident 
of  Tony's  innocence,  that  the  thought  of  prov 
ing  it  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  public  seemed 
superfluous. 

44 1  am  sure  he  never  could  do  such  a  thing 
in  the  world,  Captain  Sedley,"  said  she,  wiping 
away  her  tears,  and  gazing  with  earnestness  into 
the  face  of  her  benevolent  patron. 

44  Tony  always  was  honest,"  replied  Captain 
Sedley. 

"Honest!  He  would  not  steal  the  value  of 
a  pin  from  anybody." 

44 1  think  he  would  not." 

44 1  know  he  wouldn't !  " 

44  But  it  seems  very  strange  that  the  wallet 
should  have  been  found  in  his  pocket." 

44  Tim  Bunker  put  it  there,  you  may  depend 
upon  it." 

"  Very   likely ;  but,  Mrs.    Weston,  you   know 


154  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

that  all  these  things  must  be  proved.  As  the 
affair  stands  now,  I  am  afraid  the  testimony 
against  him,  notwithstanding  his  good  character, 
will  be  quite  sufficient  to  convict  him." 

"O  Captain  Sedley,  I  know  he  is  innocent!  " 
exclaimed  the  poor  widow,  her  eyes  filling  with 
tears  again. 

"But  it  must  be  proved,  you  see.  The  find 
ing  of  the  wallet  upon  him,  and  the  testimony 
of  Tim  Bunker  that  he  saw  him  putting  some 
thing  in  his  pocket,  in  the  very  place  where  the 
lost  property  was  alleged  to  have  been  left, 
will  leave  scarcely  a  doubt  in  the  minds  of 
judge  and  jury." 

"  Tim  Bunker  did  it,  I  know !  " 

Captain  Sedley  shook  his  head.  Though  he 
had  the  fullest  confidence  in  Tony's  innocence, 
he  desired  to  give  his  mother  a  perfect  under 
standing  of  the  difficulties  of  the  case.  After 
all,  there  was  a  remote  possibility  that  poor 
Tony  had  been  led  to  take  the  wallet;  and  if 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  155 

such  should  finally  prove  to  be  the  fact,  it  was 
better  for  the  widow  to  be  prepared  for  the 
worst. 

"I  do  not  think  Tony  is  guilty,  Mrs.  Wes- 
ton ;  but  you  must  consider  that  appearances 
are  very  strong  against  him,"  said  he. 

"I  know  it,  sir.  Poor  Tony!  must  he  spend 
the  night  in  jail?  Is  there  no  way  to  get  him 
out?"  sobbed  the  widow. 

"  He  shall  not  want  for  a  friend,  Mrs.  "Wes- 
ton.  Farmer  Whipple  must  have  returned  by 
this  time,  and  I  will  go  up  and  see  him.  But 
I  do  not  think  we  can  get  him  out  to-day." 

" Thank  you,  sir;  you  are  very  good.  If  I 
could  only  see  him,  and  tell  him  that  I  feel 
sure  he  is  innocent,  the  cold  walls  would  seem 
less  dreary  to  him.  I  know  what  the  poor 
fellow  is  thinking  about." 

Mrs.  Weston  cried  like  a  child  when  she 
thought  of  her  darling  boy  shut  up  within  the 
narrow  walls  of  a  prison  cell. 


156  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

"He  will  be  thinking  of  his  home,"  continued 
she.  "  He  will  think  of  me." 

"He  has  been  a  good  son,  Mrs.  Weston." 

"  That  he  has,  sir.  Tony  steal  ?  No,  sir. 
He  thinks  too  much  of  his  mother  and  his 
home  to  do  such  a  thing.  But  don't  you  sup 
pose  I  could  see  him?" 

"  I  will  see  him  myself ;  won't  that  do  as 
well?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"I  will  tell  him  just  how  you  feel  about  it, 
—  that  you  are  confident  he  is  innocent." 

"Thank  you,  sir;  he  will  be  so  comforted 
by  it." 

"And  to-morrow  he  will  probably  be  exam 
ined  before  the  magistrate." 

"  Then  he  will  discharge  him,  I  know !  " 

"I  fear  not;  if  there  are  reasonable  grounds 
for  supposing  him  guilty,  he  will  be  committed 
to  await  the  action  of  the  grand  jury." 

"Then    it    will  be    weeks    and    months    be- 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  157 

fore  they  prove  his  innocence,"  interposed  the 
widow. 

"  The  grand  jury  is  in  session  now ;  all  they 
will  do,  if  they  find  a  bill  against  him,  will  be 
to  commit  him  for  trial." 

"That  makes  three  times  they  will  try  him," 
said  Mrs.  Weston,  perplexed  by  the  complica 
tions  of  the  law.  "Must  he  stay  in  prison  till 
all  these  trials  are  finished?" 

"He  can  be  bailed  out  to-morrow,  after  his 
examination." 

"I  must  give  bonds  for  him,  must  I?" 

"I  will  do  that,  Mrs.  Weston.  Probably  he 
can  come  home  before  to-morrow  noon." 

"God  bless  you,  Captain  Sedley.  You 
have  always  been  very  good  to  me  in  my 
troubles." 

"  Ben,"  said  Captain  Sedley,  going  to  the 
window,  and  calling  the  old  sailor  who  was  at 
work  in  the  garden,  "Ben,  put  the  bay  horse 
into  the  chaise." 


158  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  This  is  a  world  of  trouble,  Captain  Sed- 
ley,"  said  the  widow,  with  a  deep  sigh. 

"But  from  trouble  and  affliction  come  forth 
our  purest  aspirations.  God  is  good  to  us,  even 
when  he  sends  us  trials  and  sorrows." 

"I  will  not  complain;  I  have  much  to  be 
thankful  for." 

In  a  few  moments  the  horse  and  chaise  were 
ready. 

"I  am  going  over  to  see  Farmer  Whipple, 
Mrs.  Weston,  and  then  I  shall  ride  down  to 
Rippleton.  Keep  your  spirits  up,  and  be  assured 
everything  shall  be  done  to  comfort  your  son, 
and  to  prove  his  innocence.  I  shall  engage 
Squire  Benson  to  defend  him." 

"Heaven  bless  you,  Captain  Sedley,"  said  the 
poor  widow,  wiping  away  her  tears,  as  her 
benevolent  friend  got  into  his  chaise. 

Farmer  Whipple  was  fortunately  at  home 
when  he  arrived  at  his  house,  and  Captain  Sed 
ley  immediately  opened  his  business. 


THE  BUNKEES  OF  RIPPLETON  159 

"I  don't  much  think  that  Tony  did  it,"  said 
the  farmer;  "but  things  were  agin  him,  you 
see." 

"  How  much  money  was  there  in  the  wallet?  " 
asked  Captain  Sedley. 

"More'n  I  can  afford  to  lose,  Cap'n.  It  was 
a  careless  trick  of  mine." 

"What  was  the  amount?" 

"  There  was  forty-six  dollars  in  bills,  besides 
some  odd  change." 

"Do  you  remember  what  banks  the  bills  were 
on?" 

"Most  on  'em.  There  was  a  twenty  dollar 
bill  on  the  Rippleton  Bank,  a  ten  on  the  Vil 
lage  Bank,  and  some  small  bills,  mostly  on 
Boston  Banks." 

"Where  is  the  wallet  now?" 

"I  got  it;  Squire  Little  said  I  might  take  it 
agin." 

"Was  the  money  all  right?" 

"  Bless  you,  no !    If   it   had  been,  I  wouldn't 


160  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

say  a  word.  All  the  small  bills  were  there,  but 
the  big  ones  were  gone." 

"  Indeed !  " 

«  That's  the  wo'st  on't." 

"Have  you  any  description  of  the  lost  bills?" 

"Well,  yes;  I  reckon  I  should  know  the 
twenty  agin,  if  I  saw  it." 

"How?" 

"Well,  it  happens  rather  lucky.  Arter  we 
came  from  the  jail,  I  went  into  Doolittle's  store 
to  git  some  tea.  When  I  went  in  there,  he  was 
fixin'  some  kind  of  a  plate,  with  his  name  on't; 
a  pencil  plate,  I  believe  he  called  it." 

"  A  stencil  plate,"  said  Captain  Sedley. 

"  Jest  so ;  he  was  marking  his  name  on  the 
back  of  some  bank  bills  with  it.  I  telled  him 
about  the  robbery,  and  that  the  twenty  dollar 
bill  he  give  me  the  day  before  was  gone  with 
the  rest.  Then  he  telled  me  that  that  twenty 
dollar  bill  was  marked  with  his  '  pencil  plate,' 
d'ye  see?" 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          161 

"  He  might  have  marked  a  dozen  others  with 
it,"  added  Captain  Sedley. 

« No,  he  didn't.  You  see,  he  didn't  git  the 
plate  till  jest  afore  he  paid  me  that  bill,  and 
he  is  sartin  that  is  the  only  twenty  dollar  bill 
he  has  marked." 

"  Did  you  see  the  mark  yourself  ?  " 

" 1  saw  sunthin  on  it,  but  I  couldn't  read 
it  without  puttin'  my  glasses  on ;  so  I  didn't 
mind  what  it  was." 

Captain  Sedley  considered  this  important  in 
formation.  If  the  twenty  dollar  bill,  thus  marked, 
should  ever  appear  in  the  village,  it  might  furnish 
a  clew  by  which  to  trace  out  the  thief. 

On  his  arrival  at  Rippleton  village,  he  went 
to  Doolittle's  store,  and  ascertained  that  he  had 
marked  no  more  bills;  that  he  was  sure  he  had 
marked  no  other  twenty  dollar  bill  than  the 
one  he  paid  to  Farmer  Whipple.  Requesting 
him  not  to  mark  any  more,  he  went  over  to 
the  jail. 


162  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

Tony  was  in  much  better  spirits  than  he  ex 
pected  to  find  him.  His  only  trouble  was  in 
relation  to  his  mother,  and  he  cried  bitterly 
when  he  spoke  of  her.  Captain  Sedley  com 
forted  him,  assuring  him  his  mother  and  his 
friends  were  satisfied  that  he  was  innocent,  and 
that  he  should  have  the  best  lawyer  in  the 
county  to  defend  him. 

"I  don't  want  any  lawyer,  Captain  Sedley," 
said  Tony  stoutly ;  "I  am  as  innocent  of  this 
crime  as  though  I  had  never  been  born." 

"But,  Tony,  who  do  you  think  stole  the 
wallet?  " 

"I  have  no  idea,  unless  Tim  Bunker  did; 
and  he  has  laid  it  to  me  to  clear  himself." 

"Tim  is  one  of  the  witnesses,  and  a  good 
lawyer  may  be  able  to  get  the  truth  out  of  him." 

"I  don't  believe  he  could,"  replied  Tony 
with  a  faint  smile. 

"  I  shall  engage  Squire  Benson  to  defend 
you;  and  to-morrow,  before  the  examination,  he 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  163 

will  come  in  to  see  you.     If  you  have  anything 
to  say,  you  can  say  it  to  him." 
"  I  can  only  say  I  am  innocent." 
"  He  will  want  to  know  all  the  circumstances." 
"  I  will  tell  him  all  I  know  about  it." 
After  some  further  conversation,  Captain  Sed- 
ley  took  his  leave,  and  hastened  to  the  office  of 
Squire  Benson,  who  was   the  most  distinguished 
lawyer  in  that  county. 

The  legal  gentleman  readily  engaged  to  de 
fend  Tony,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  the 
examination.  The  marked  bank  bill  was  an 
important  matter  for  consideration,  though  there 
was  no  present  hope  of  finding  it.  But  there 
was  a  prospect  that  it  would  eventually  come 
to  light, 

On  his  arrival  at  his  house,  Captain  Sedley 
found  the  widow  Weston  waiting  his  return. 
She  was  much  comforted  when  she  heard  that 
Tony  was  in  good  spirits.  She  listened  with 
attention  to  all  her  kind  friend  said,  and  went 


164  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

home  with  a  lighter  heart  than  when  she  came. 
The  interest  which  Captain  Sedley  manifested 
in  the  case  inspired  her  with  hope.  He  was 
an  influential  man,  and  his  assistance  would 
enable  her  to  do  all  that  could  be  done. 

On  the  following  morning  the  examination  of 
Tony  took  place  at  the  office  of  Squire  Little. 
Mrs.  Weston  had  an  interview  with  her  son 
when  he  was  brought  in  by  the  officer.  Both 
wept,  but  there  was  hope  in  the  consciousness 
that  he  was  innocent.  Frank,  Charles,  and  Tim 
Bunker  were  there  as  witnesses,  as  well  as 
Farmer  Whipple  and  Mr.  Hyde. 

The  examination  proceeded,  but  it  was  only 
a  repetition  of  the  facts  already  given.  Squire 
Benson,  in  his  cross  examination,  pressed  Tim 
Bunker  severely ;  but  though  there  were  several 
trifling  inconsistencies  in  his  answers,  his  testi 
mony  was  generally  accurate.  He  denied  hav 
ing  told  Tony  that  he  saw  Farmer  Whipple  pass 
through  the  woodhouse. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  165 

Captain  Sedley  had  prepared  Mrs.  Weston  for 
the  result;  and  when  Tony  was  bound  over  to 
await  the  action  of  the  grand  jury,  she  heard 
the  decision  with  tolerable  calmness.  Her  benev 
olent  friend  became  his  bail;  he  was  liberated, 
and  they  all  went  home  together. 


166  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  BOAT-HOUSE 

THE  boat-house  for  the  Zephyr  had  been 
begun  on  Wednesday,  the  day  following  her  ar 
rival.  All  the  carpenters  that  could  work  upon 
it  were  engaged  by  Captain  Sedley,  so  that  by 
Saturday  it  was  nearly  finished. 

Its  location  was  at  one  end  of  the  beach,  near 
the  flat  rock,  and  not  far  from  the  moorings  of 
the  sailboat.  It  was  sixty  feet  long,  and  ex 
tended  out  over  the  waters  of  the  lake.  It  was 
built  on  piles,  driven  into  the  sand  on  the  bot 
tom.  The  club  hall  was  at  the  land  end  of 
the  building,  and  was  about  twenty  feet  square. 
From  this  apartment  the  boys  passed  into  the 
boat-house  proper,  which  was  so  arranged  that 
they  could  all  take  their  places  in  the  boat, 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON 


167 


Shore 


and  push  out  into  the  lake  without  confusion  or 
inconvenience. 

But  as  my  young  friends 
undoubtedly  feel  a  great  de 
sire  to  obtain  an  accurate 
idea  of  the  situation  and 
arrangements  of  the  boat- 
house,  I  have  drawn  a  plan  of 
it,  which  is  here  subjoined. 

If  my  young  readers  care 
fully  examine  the  plan,  and 
refer  to  the  explanations, 
they  can  understand  the  po 
sition  of  the  rooms,  and  the 
situation  of  everything  con 
nected  with  the  boat-house. 

Around  the  platform  a 
railing  was  constructed  with 


EXPLANATIONS.  —  a,    the    outside 

door;  B,  the  club  hall;  c,  stove;  d,  d,  cases  for  the  library;  et 
entrance  to  the  boat  hall ;  /,  /,  /,  /,  a  platform ;  g,  g,  the  boat ; 
h,  h,  the  water  in  which  the  boat  floats;  i,  the  door  through 
which  the  boat  passes  out  upon  the  lake. 


168  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

a  gate  at  the  bow,  and  one  on  each  side  of 
the  boat,  so  that  the  members  of  the  club 
could  get  into  it  only  at  these  three  places. 

Frank  and  Charles  protested  against  this  rail 
ing  at  first,  and  maintained  that  there  was  not 
the  least  danger  of  their  falling  into  the  water; 
but  Captain  Sedley,  knowing  how  prone  boys  are 
to  scuffle  and  be  careless,  insisted  upon  having  it. 

The  boys  watched  the  progress  the  carpenters 
made  in  erecting  the  boat-house  with  the  deep 
est  interest,  and  Uncle  Ben  got  almost  out  of 
patience  answering  the  innumerable  questions 
they  put  to  him  in  regard  to  what  everything 
was  for.  Morning,  noon,  and  night  they  visited 
the  building,  and  longed  for  Saturday  afternoon, 
when  they  were  to  make  another  excursion  in 
the  Zephyr. 

Poor  Tony's  misfortunes  had  excited  all  their 
sympathy,  and  divided  their  attention  with  the 
club.  Some  of  them  ventured  to  doubt  the  inno 
cence  of  their  companion,  though  a  large  major- 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  169 

ity  felt  quite  sure  he  would  be  cleared  at  the 
trial. 

Early  on  Saturday  afternoon,  Frank  and 
Charles  met  at  the  boat-house. 

"Will  Tony  come,  do  you  think?"  asked  the 
latter . 

"  I  told  him  this  morning  to  be  sure  and  come. 
I  hope  he  will." 

"Do  you  think  your  father  will  let  him  con 
tinue  to  belong  to  the  club  ?  "  asked  Charles. 

"Certainly  he  will!     Why  not?" 

"Only  think  of  it  —  taken  up  for  stealing!5' 

"  Do  you  believe  he  is  guilty  ?  " 

"They  wouldn't  put  him  in  jail  if  he  wasn't, 
it  isn't  likely." 

"But  he  hasn't  been  tried  yet." 

"  No ;  but  then  to  think  that  the  wallet  was 
found  in  his  pocket." 

"I  don't  believe  he  is  guilty  any  more  than 
I  believe  I  am,"  replied  Frank  warmly. 

"Nor  I;  but"  — 


170  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"But  what,  Charley?" 

"Things  look  so  against  him." 

"I  am  afraid  Tim  Bunker  knows  more  about 
it  than  he  chooses  to  tell." 

"Don't  you  remember  Tony  didn't  want  us 
to  meddle  with  it,  and  said  we  had  better  tell 
Farmer  Whipple  it  was  there  rather  than  touch 
it  ourselves  ? "  added  Charles,  looking  earnestly 
into  the  face  of  his  companion. 

"I  know  Tony  wouldn't  steal  it." 

"He  might." 

"  I  am  surprised  to  hear  you  say  so,  Charley," 
said  Frank,  hurt  by  the  doubts  of  his  friend. 

"He  might* have  thought  that  Farmer  Whipple 
would  never  find  him  out." 

"That  wouldn't  have  made  any  difference 
with  Tony." 

"He  might  have  thought,  too,  how  much 
good  the  money  would  do  his  mother." 

"  Tony  never  could  have  thought  that  stolen 
money  would  do  his  mother  any  good." 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  171 

"Perhaps  he  did  not  think  anything  about 
the  wickedness  of  the  act." 

"Is  it  possible,  Charley,  that  you  have  so 
poor  an  opinion  of  Tony  as  that?  I  shouldn't 
think  you  would  wish  to  associate  with  him 
now." 

"I  don't  know,"  said  Charles,  apparently  ab 
sorbed  by  his  own  thoughts.  "  Do  you  think 
we  ought  to  have  him  in  the  club  till  after 
this  thing  is  settled?" 

"Why,  Charley!  You  can't  think  how  it 
hurts  my  feelings  to  hear  you  talk  so." 

"What  do  you  suppose  your  father  will  say 
about  it?" 

"I  know  what  he  will  say;  he  believes  Tony 
is  entirely  innocent." 

"  Oh,  if  he  does,  we  ought  not  to  say  a 
word,"  replied  Charles  promptly.  "  Only,  you 
know,  he  said  so  much  about  the  club  being  a 
means  of  improvement  as  well  as  amusement." 

Frank   could  not  understand  the  thoughts  of 


172  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

his  friend;  but  his  father,  who  had  been  in^ 
structing  the  workmen  in  regard  to  the  boat- 
house,  joined  them  soon  after,  and  the  ques 
tion  was  referred  to  him,  with  a  statement  of 
Charles's  views. 

Captain  Sedley  looked  into  Charles's  eye 
searchingly. 

"  You  think  Tony  ought  to  be  excluded  from 
the  club,  do  you  ? "  asked  he. 

"No,  sir;  I  don't  think  so;  but  I  didn't 
know  but  you  might  think  so,"  replied  Charles, 
confused  by  the  earnestness  of  Captain  Sedley's 
glance. 

"Charles,  I  am  afraid  you  have  not  made 
your  mind  up  in  regard  to  the  question.  You 
are  willing  to  believe  anything  that  will  please 
those  whom  you  wish  to  conciliate." 

"I  want  to  believe  the  truth." 

"  You  are  not  so  particular  about  the  truth 
as  you  are  about  suiting  your  friends." 

Captain  Sedley  had  had  a  great  deal  of  ex- 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  173 

perience  in  reading  the  characters  of  men;  and 
he  readily  perceived  that  Charles  desired  to  be 
foremost  in  condemning  evil,  for  the  purpose 
of  getting  the  good  will  of  others.  It  was  a 
dangerous  state  of  mind,  for  with  the  Bunkers 
he  would  probably  have  been  just  as  forward 
in  a  bad  cause.  His  motive  was  not  a  worthy 
one.  It  was  the  same  as  that  which  some 
times  induces  men  and  women  to  go  to  church, 
to  give  money  to  the  poor,  or  to  assume  a 
virtue  they  do  not  possess,  —  for  the  reputation 
it  would  give  them.  It  was  the  same  motive 
which  had  urged  him  to  give  his  money  to 
the  widow  Weston. 

Perhaps  he  was  not  fully  conscious  of  his 
motive  in  thus  being  the  foremost  to  condemn 
poor  Tony ;  but  Captain  Sedley  read  his  character 
rightly,  and  understood  the  workings  of  his  mind. 

"I  am  sure  I  feel  kindly  towards  Tony;  as 
kindly  as  any  other  fellow  in  the  club,"  said 
Charles. 


174  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"I  do  not  doubt  it,  but  we  must  watch  all 
our  thoughts  and  actions." 

Captain  Sedley  returned  to  the  boat-house 
to  give  further  directions  concerning  the  build 
ing.  Before  two  o'clock  all  the  boys,  with  the 
exception  of  Tony  Weston,  were  gathered  on 
the  beach. 

"I  hope  he  will  come,"  said  Frank,  much 
concerned  at  the  absence  of  his  friend. 

"  I  hope  so,"  added  Charles. 

"  Here  is  Uncle  Ben.  Hurrah !  "  shouted 
several  of  the  boys. 

"I  arn't  goin'  with  you  this  afternoon,"  said 
the  veteran,  as  he  laid  an  armful  of  oars,  boat- 
hooks,  and  other  furniture  belonging  to  the 
Zephyr,  which  had  been  carried  to  the  house 
for  safe  keeping,  upon  the  beach. 

"Not  going  with  us,  Uncle  Ben?  "  asked  Frank. 

"  Your  father  is  going,"  replied  the  old  sailor, 
as  he  drew  the  boat  in  shore,  and  put  the  oars 
and  other  articles  in  their  places  on  board. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  175 

"Here  he  comes,"  added  Frank. 

"Where  is  Tony?"  asked  Captain  Sedley,  as 
he  discovered  the  absence  of  the  widow's  son. 

"He  has  not  conie." 

"I  am  sorry  for  that.  We  will  go  up  and 
see  where  he  is.  Ben,  take  the  boat  over  to 
the  flat  rock." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir." 

The  boys  scampered  over  to  the  place  of  em 
barkation,  followed  by  Captain  Sedley. 

"Frank,  you  may  take  Tony's  place,"  said 
his  father  when  they  had  reached  the  rock, 
"and  I  will  steer." 

Frank  leaped  into  the  bow  of  the  boat,  and 
took  the  boat-hook.  Steadying  her,  he  called 
the  numbers,  and  the  club  all  took  their  places 
in  excellent  order,  and  sat  waiting  for  further 
commands. 

"  Very  well,  boys ;  your  discipline  is  most  ex 
cellent,"  said  Captain  Sedley.  "  Push  off,  Frank, 
Ready  with  the  oars." 


176  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  Up  oars !  "  said  Uncle  Ben,  who  stood  on 
the  rock. 

The  manceuvre  was  executed  with  admirable 
precision. 

"Shove  off !  "  which  was  done  by  the  bow 
and  stroke  oarsmen. 

"Let  fall!"  said  Ben.      * 

The  oars  fell  altogether  on  the  water,  and 
the  boys  shipped  them. 

"  Give  way  together  I  "  added  Ben ;  and  away 
went  the  Zephyr  with  the  first  stroke  of  the 
oars. 

Captain  Sedley  steered  up  the  lake  in  the 
direction  of  the  widow  Weston's  cottage.  The 
Zephyr  darted  like  an  arrow  through  the  water, 
her  sharp  bow  cutting  the  tiny  waves  like  a 
knife,  making  a  most  musical  ripple  as  it  dashed 
a  clear  jet  of  white  foam  as  high  as  the  gun 
wale. 

It  was  scarcely  three  minutes  before  Captain 
Sedley  gave  the  command  "Way  enough  1" 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  177 

The  boat  darted  into  a  cove  by  the  widow's 
house,  and  Frank  and  his  father  landed. 

Tony,  it  seemed,  wished  to  join  the  club;  but 
his  mother,  fearful  lest  some  of  the  boys  should 
taunt  him  with  the  occurrences  of  the  past  few 
days,  desired  him  to  remain  at  home.  Captain 
Sedley's  request,  however,  was  quite  sufficient, 
and  Tony  followed  Frank  down  to  the  boat. 

"  Three  cheers  for  Tony  Weston !  "  exclaimed 
Charles  Hardy,  as  they  came  in  sight. 

The  cheers  were  given,  but  Captain  Sedley 
could  not  but  question  the  motives  of  him  who 
had  proposed  them. 

"Now,  Frank,  you  are  coxswain  again,"  said 
Captain  Sedley.  "You  will  do  better  than  I 
can;  for  I  am  not  posted  on  man-of-war-boat 
tactics,  and  Ben  has  trained  you  to  naval  dis 
cipline." 

Tony  took  his  place  at  the  bow  oar,  and 
Frank  in  the  stern-sheets.  The  former  was  re 
ceived  with  sympathy  and  kindness  by  the  club, 


178  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

and  the  poor  boy  felt  how  pleasant  it  was  to 
have  the  good  will  of  his  companions  in  the 
midst  of  his  trials. 

"  Up  oars !  "  said  Frank,  when  all  was  ready 
for  a  start.  Let  fall !  Give  way !  " 

"Down  the  lake,  Frank,  towards  the  village," 
added  Captain  Sedley. 

Again  the  beautiful  Zephyr  bounded  over  the 
waters;  but  after  pulling  a  few  minutes,  Cap 
tain  Sedley  directed  Frank  to  cease  rowing. 

"Boys,  we  are  going  to  have  a  uniform  for 
the  club,"  said  he. 

"  A  uniform ! "  repeated  several  of  the  boys. 

"  Hurrah !  "  shouted  Charles  Hardy. 

"I  have  already  spoken  to  Mr.  Burlap,  the 
tailor;  and  now  we  are  going  down  to  have  him 
take  your  measures." 

"What  will  the  uniform  be,  father?"  asked 
Frank. 

"White  sailors'  trousers,  a  blue  jacket,  and  a 
white  shirt  trimmed  with  blue.  The  hat  will  be 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  E1PPLETON  179 

a  tarpaulin,  with  '  Zephyr '  in  gilt  letters  on  the 
front." 

The  boys  all  clapped  their  hands,  as  the  only 
means  in  their  power  to  express  their  gratifica 
tion. 

"Now  pull  for  Rippleton." 

"  Stand  by  !     Give  way !  " 

The  Zephyr  parted  the  waters  before  her 
graceful  bow,  and  sped  like  a  rocket  on  her 
way.  The  beautiful  boat  excited  a  great  deal 
of  attention  at  the  village ;  and  when  the  boys 
returned  from  the  tailor's,  hundreds  had  col 
lected  on  the  bank  to  see  them  row. 

Captain  Sedley  gratified  the  curiosity  of  the 
people  by  requiring  Frank  to  exercise  the  club 
for  some  time  near  the  spot  where  they  stood. 
After  a  row  across  the  lake,  they  returned,  and 
the  Zephyr  was  moored  in  her  new  house,  much 
to  the  delight  of  her  enthusiastic  crew. 


180  THE  SO  AT  CLUB;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE  FIRST  MEETING   IN  ZEPHYR  HALL 

IN  another  fortnight  the  boat-house  was  en 
tirely  completed,  furnished,  and  ready  for  the 
occupancy  of  the  club.  School  had  closed  for 
the  season,  and  the  summer  vacation  had  begun ; 
but  most  of  the  boys,  in  anticipation  of  the 
pleasure  which  the  boat  club  promised  them,  pre 
ferred  to  stay  at  home  rather  than  go  to  the 
seashore  or  the  mountains,  or  visit  their  friends 
at  a  distance. 

Mr.  Burlap,  the  tailor,  had  exerted  himself  to 
the  utmost;  and  the  new  dress  of  the  boat  club 
was  soon  ready  for  use.  The  tarpaulins  had 
been  purchased  and  lettered,  and  the  uniforms 
had  been  hung  up  in  the  little  closets  in  the 
club-room  of  the  boat-house.  One  was  appro- 


,  '  THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          181 

priated  to  each  member,  whose  number  was 
painted  upon  the  door. 

Uncle  Ben  had  given  the  boys  several  extra 
lessons  in  rowing  in  the  meantime,  and  the  dis 
cipline  of  the  club  and  the  rowing  were  pro 
nounced  perfect.  The  first  meeting  in  the  new 
hall  was  appointed  to  take  place  on  Monday 
morning,  and  punctually  to  the  hour  the  mem 
bers  were  all  assembled. 

The  hall  had  been  tastefully  furnished  and 
decorated,  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Sed- 
ley.  On  the  floor  was  a  very  pretty  carpet 
with  bright  colors ;  on  the  walls  hung  several 
large  maps  and  engravings  in  frames,  illustra 
tive  of  various  boat-scenes;  and  over  the  door 
leading  to  the  boat-house  proper  was  painted 
•n  Uue  letters,  — 

ZEPHYR    BOAT    CLUB. 

On  the  window-curtains  the  name  of  the  club 
was  also  painted.  In  the  middle  of  the  room 


182  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

was  placed  a  long  table,  around  which  were 
arranged  thirteen  chairs  for  the  members.  The 
library  cases  were  rilled  with  books,  which  had 
been  selected  with  great  care  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sedley.  On  the  table  were  placed  various 
pamphlets  and  periodicals ;  and  when  the  club 
assembled,  Uncle  Ben  was  there,  seated  in  the 
coxswain's  armchair,  poring  over  the  pages  of 
the  Sailor's  Magazine. 

The  boys  all  came  in  and  took  their  chairs, 
each  of  which  was  numbered ;  and  Uncle  Ben 
cheerfully  resigned  his  place  to  the  coxswain. 

"Order!  "  said  Frank,  rapping  on  the  table. 

Captain  Sedley  had  instructed  Frank  in  some 
of  the  forms  of  conducting  a  public  meeting; 
and  the  matter  had  been  made  the  topic  of 
conversation  among  the  others,  so  that  they 
had  a  tolerable  idea  of  parliamentary  usage. 
They  were  all  enthusiastic  and  eager  to  learn; 
and  some  of  them  had  attended  a  special  town 
meeting  a  few  days  before,  for  the  purpose,  as 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  183 

they  expressed  it,  of  "seeing  how  the  thing 
was  done.'*  And  when  Captain  Sedley  came 
in  to  breakfast  on  the  morning  of  that  eventful 
day,  he  found  Frank  intently  perusing  the  pages 
of  Cushing's  "  Manual." 

When,  therefore,  the  coxswain  called  the  meet 
ing  to  order,  all  noise  and  conversation  imme 
diately  ceased ;  and  the  members  of  the  club 
seemed  determined  to  conduct  themselves  with 
more  propriety  than  the  "  legal  voters  "  of  Rip 
ple  ton  had  at  the  town  meeting  they  had  at 
tended. 

Frank,  in  the  words  of  the  newspaper  report 
ers,  "made  a  neat  and  appropriate  speech,"  on 
the  occasion  of  taking  possession  of  the  new 
hall.  After  this  important  matter  had  been  dis 
posed  of,  the  coxswain  remarked  that  the  first 
business  of  the  club  would  be  to  select  a  name 
for  the  hall. 

"Mr.  Chairman,"  said  Charles  Hardy,  rising 
with  the  utmost  gravity  and  decorum. 


184  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

Uncle  Ben  laughed  outright ;  but  immediately 
apologized  for  his  unseemly  mirth,  and  fearful 
lest  he  should  disturb  the  dignified  body  again, 
he  withdrew  from  the  hall,  and  busied  him 
self  in  polishing  up  the  brass  work  of  the 
boat. 

"  Charles  Hardy,"  said  the  young  chairman, 
bowing  to  the  member  who  had  obtained  the 
floor. 

"I  move  that  this  hall,  hereafter,  hencefor 
ward,  and  for  all  time  to  come,  be  called  Sed- 
ley  Hall,"  said  Charles,  who,  in  the  absence  of 
any  work  on  parliamentary  tactics  in  his  father's 
library,  had  carefully  studied  the  "  Business 
Man's  Assistant,"  from  which  he  had  stored  his 
memory  with  a  variety  of  legal  and  technical 
phrases.  He  had  the  jingle  of  them  in  his 
head,  and  did  not  mind  much  about  the  sub 
stance. 

Captain  Sedley  entered  the  hall  just  as  he 
made  his  motion. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  185 

"Second  the  motion,"  said  Fred  Harper. 

"It  is  moved  and  seconded  that  this  room  be 
called  Sedley  Hall,"  continued  the  coxswain, 
rising  from  the  chair.  "  The  question  is  open 
for  discussion." 

"  Mr.  Chairman,"  said  Captain  Sedley,  scarcely 
able  to  control  his  inclination  to  indulge  in  a 
hearty  laugh  at  the  dignity  and  formality  of 
the  proceedings,  "  though  not,  strictly  speaking, 
a  member  of  the  club,  perhaps  you  will  indulge 
rne  in  a  few  remarks  on  the  question  before  the 
house.  I  am  very  grateful  to  you  for  the 
honor  to  my  name  and  family  which  is  contem 
plated  by  the  excellent  member  on  the  other 
side  of  the  table  ;  but  for  reasons  of  my  own, 
I  must  beg  the  gentleman  to  withdraw  his 
motion.'* 

"He  cannot  withdraw  without  the  consent  of 
the  house — of  the  club,  I  mean,"  said  Frank, 
blushing  at  his  blunder. 

"It  is  customary  when  no  objection  is  made," 


186  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

replied  Captain  Sedley  gravely,  "to  permit  a 
motion  to  be  withdrawn." 

"Mr.  Chairman,"  said  Charles,  rising,  "for 
the  obvious  reasons  mentioned  by  the  honorable 
and  distinguished  gentleman,  I  withdraw  my 
motion." 

At  the  risk  of  disturbing  the  dignity  of  the 
meeting,  Captain  Sedley  remarked  that  he  had 
stated  no  reasons. 

"  I  move  that  the  room  be  called  Zephyr 
Hall,"  said  Tony  Weston. 

"Second  the  motion,"  said  Charles. 

Frank  stated  the  question,  and  observed  that 
it  was  open  for  any  remarks.  But  the  mem 
bers,  not  feeling  disposed  to  indulge  in  any 
flights  of  eloquence  before  Captain  Sedley, 
maintained  an  obstinate  silence  for  full  five 
minutes.  The  chairman,  impressed  with  the 
idea  that  some  speeches  must  be  made,  anyhow, 
did  not  interrupt  the  dignified  quiet  by  putting 
the  question. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIP  P  LET  ON  187 

At  last  the  silence  was  broken  by  a  hearty 
laugh  on  the  part  of  Captain  Sedley. 

"  Why  don't  you  put  the  question,  Frank  ?  " 
asked  he. 

"  The  debate  has  not  taken  place  yet." 

"  There  are  some  questions  which  it  is  not 
necessary  to  debate." 

"  Question !  "  said  Fred  Harper,  who  had  been 
to  town  meeting. 

"  Those  in  favor  of  calling  the  room  Zephyr 
Hall,  please  manifest  it  by  raising  the  right 
hand." 

"All  up!  "  cried  Fred  Harper. 

44  It  is  a  unanimous  vote,"  added  the  chair 
man. 

"Let  the  clerk  record  the  vote,"  whispered 
Captain  Sedley  to  his  son. 

"We  have  no  clerk  yet." 

"  Doing  business  without  a  clerk !  "  laughed 
his  father. 

"The    next    business    will    be    to    choose    a 


188  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

clerk,"  continued  Frank,  laughing.  "Please  to 
bring  in  your  ballots  for  a  clerk." 

There  were  paper  and  pens  at  the  other  end 
of  the  table ;  and  Fred  Harper,  who  seemed  to 
have  a  very  good  idea  of  "the  manner  in  which 
the  public  business  is  transacted,"  commenced 
writing  votes.  In  a  few  moments  they  were 
all  supplied. 

"I  move  that  a  committee  of  three  be  ap 
pointed  by  the  chair  to  collect,  sort,  and  count 
the  votes,  and  report  to  the  meeting,"  said 
Fred. 

"Second  the  motion,"  added  Tom  Greene. 

The  motion  was  put  and  carried. 

"The  chair  appoints  Frederic  Harper,  Thomas 
Greene,  and  Mark  Leman." 

The  votes  were  collected  and  reported. 

"Whole  number  of  votes,  thirteen,"  repeated 
Frank;  "necessary  for  a  choice,  seven;  Fred 
eric  Harper  has  one;  Anthony  Weston  has 
twelve,  and  is  elected." 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON          189 

Captain  Sedley  clapped  his  hands  at  this  evi 
dence  of  good  will  on  the  part  of  the  members, 
and  the  club  all  joined  heartily  in  the  demon 
stration.  Three  days  before,  the  grand  jury  had 
found  a  bill  against  Tony;  but  his  friends  still 
continued  to  regard  and  treat  him  as  an  inno 
cent  person. 

" 1  thank  you  for  your  kindness,"  said  Tony, 
rising ;  "  I  am  sure,  I  — "  but  the  poor  fellow 
choked  up,  and  could  say  no  more, 

His  heart  was  full,  and  the  great  tears  rolled 
down  his  cheeks. 

"  Never  mind  it,  Tony ;  here  is  the  record- 
book,"  said  Fred  Harper,  taking  it  from  the 
library  case. 

Tony  wiped  away  his  tears,  and  seated  himself 
at  the  foot  of  the  table,  where  a  small  desk 
had  been  placed  for  the  use  of  the  clerk. 

"Mr.  Chairman,"  said  Charles  Hardy. 

Frank  nodded  to  him  to  indicate  that  he  had 
the  floor. 


190  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"I  move  that  a  committee  of  three  be  ap 
pointed  to  draft  and  report  a  constitution  for 
the  club." 

"Second  the  motion,"  added  Sam  Harper. 

The  motion  prevailed.  Charles  Hardy,  Tony 
Weston,  and  Fred  Harper  were  nominated  "at 
large,"  and  chosen  to  serve  on  this  committee. 
Leaving  the  hall,  they  retired  to  the  boat-room 
for  deliberation ;  but  the  constitution  had  already 
been  prepared  by  Frank  and  Charles,  with  the 
assistance  of  Captain  Sedley.  To  make  the 
business  look  more  important  and  dignified, 
Charles  insisted  on  remaining  out  a  few  mo 
ments,  during  which  time  they  talked  over  the 
matter  with  Uncle  Ben. 

When  they  returned,  the  constitution  was  duly 
reported,  and  adopted  article  by  article. 

Perhaps  my  young  readers  would  not  readily 
appreciate  the  moral  of  my  story  without  reading 
this  important  document ;  therefore  I  add,  in  full, 
the 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  1UPPLETON  191 

CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  I. 
This  aaaociation  shall  be  called  the  Zephyr  Boat  Club. 

ARTICLE  II. 

The  objects  of  the  association  shall  be  the  instruction 
and  amusement  of  the  members,  and  the  acquiring  of 
good  morals,  good  manners,  and  good  habits  in  general. 

ARTICLE  III. 

The  officers  of  the  club  shall  consist  of  a  coxswain,  as 
president,  and  a  clerk. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  coxswain  to  command 
the  boat,  to  preside  at  the  meetings  of  the  club,  and  to 
exercise  a  general  supervision  over  its  affairs.  He  shall 
hold  his  office  for  two  weeks. 

ARTICLE  V. 

The  clerk  shall  keep  a  record  of  the  meetings,  and  of 
all  business  pertaining  to  the  club,  and  shall  hold  his 
office  for  four  weeks. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

No  member  of  this  club  shall  use  profane  language 
at  any  time.  No  member  shall  neglect  his  school,  or 
his  duties  at  home.  No  member  shall  use  vulgar  or  in 
decent  language.  No  member  shall  provoke  a  quarrel 


192  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

with  another  person,  but  shall  do  all  he  can  to  prevent 
fighting  and  unkindly  feelings  one  towards  another.  No 
member  shall  use  tobacco,  or  ardent  spirits  as  a  bever 
age,  in  any  form.  All  members  shall  obey  the  coxswain 
while  in  the  boat.  Any  member  offending  against  either 
of  the  requirements  of  this  article  shall  be  liable  to 
suspension,  and  if  incorrigible,  to  expulsion  from  the 

club. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

In  order  the  more  perfectly  to  carry  out  the  beneficent 
and  reformatory  purposes  of  the  founder  of  the  club,  to 
whose  bounty  we  are  indebted  for  the  opportunities  of 
instruction  and  amusement  the  association  affords  us,  we 
appoint  him  our  Director.  All  violations  of  Article  VI., 
and  all  violations  of  the  spirit  of  our  organization  set 
forth  in  Article  II.,  whether  in  word  or  in  deed,  shall 
be  reported  to  our  Director,  and  the  delinquent  shall  be 
subject  to  such  penalty  as  he  shall  determine. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

The  hall  and  library  shall  be  open  every  Wednesday 
and  Saturday  afternoon,  at  such  other  times  as  the  Di 
rector  or  coxswain  may  order,  and  every  evening  except 
Sunday  till  nine  o'clock. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

This  constitution  may  be  altered  or  amended  by  a 
vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  members. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  193 

This  constitution  was  transferred  to  the  record 
book,  and  duly  signed.  Some  other  business 
was  transacted,  and  the  meeting  adjourned. 

"  Put  on  your  uniforms,"  said  Frank,  as  he 
rose  from  his  chair,  "  and  we  will  make  our 
first  appearance." 

"At  twelve  o'clock  there  will  be  a  collation 
ready  for  you  on  Centre  Island,  to  which  you 
are  all  invited,"  said  Captain  Sedley. 

"Hurrah!  "  shouted  Charles  Hardy,  as  he 
rushed  into  the  boat-room. 


194  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 


CHAPTER   XIII 

THE   THUNDERBOLT 

THE  appearance  of  the  Zephyr  Club  in  uni 
form  was  unique  and  pleasing,  and  each  of  the 
members  was  "every  inch  a  sailor."  Uncle  Ben 
was  delighted  with  the  change ;  "  they  looked  so 
much  more  shipshape  than  in  their  shore  togs." 

"  Come,  Uncle  Ben,  we  are  all  ready,"  said 
Frank. 

"I  arn't  goin'  with  you  this  time." 

"You  must  go  without  him  to-day,  Frank," 
added  Captain  Sedley.  "Uncle  Ben  must  take 
the  things  over  to  the  island  for  the  collation." 

"  Are  we  to  go  alone  ?  " 

"  Certainly." 

"  Hurrah !  "  cried  Charles,  who  always  used 
this  word  to  express  his  gratification. 


THE  BUNKEBS  OF  EIPPLETON          195 

"But,  boys,  you  must  preserve  good  disci 
pline.  According  to  the  constitution  you  must 
all  obey  the  coxswain.  And,  Frank,  be  very 
careful;  don't  get  aground  on  the  rocks  at  the 
north  shore,  and  if  you  go  down  the  river,  don't 
go  too  near  the  dam.'' 

"I  will  not,  father,"  replied  Frank,  who  was 
fully  impressed  by  the  responsibility  of  his  posi 
tion  as  commander  of  the  Zephyr.  "Take  your 
places  in  the  boat.  Tony,  number  them." 

The  doors  which  gave  egress  from  the  boat- 
house  to  the  lake  were  thrown  open  by  Uncle 
Ben. 

"Now,  back  her  steady,"  continued  Frank, 
standing  up  in  the  stern-sheets.  "Don't  let  her 
rub,  Tony.  Steady;  one  hard  push;  now  she 
goes ;  "  and  the  Zephyr  shot  out  into  the  lake. 

"The  flags,  Frank,"  said  Charles. 

"  Ay,  ay ;  Tony,  hoist  yours ;  "  and  at  the 
same  time  Frank  raised  the  American  flag  at 
the  stern. 


196  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

"  Ready  ;  now  for  the  oars.     Up  oars  !  " 

"Let  fall!'* 

"  Give  way  together  !  " 

Frank  felt  like  a  prince  as  the  Zephyr  darted 
away. 

"Where  are  you  going,  Frank?"  asked 
Charles. 

"I  don't  know;  anywhere  that  the  club  wish 
to  go." 

"Up  to  Squaw  Rock,"  suggested  one. 

"Down  to  Rippleton,"  said  another. 

"Over  to  the  sawmill,"  added  a  third. 

"Way  enough!  "  cried  Frank.  "Lay  on  your 
oars,  and  we  will  decide  it." 

"What  do  you  say  to  circumnavigating  the 
lake?"  said  Fred  Harper. 

"So  I  say,"  cried  several. 

"Those  in  favor  of  going  round  the  lake  say 


"Ay,"  shouted  a  large  majority. 

"  Round  it  is,"  said  Frank.     "  Give  way  I  " 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  197 

Taking  a  course  in  the  direction  of  Ripple- 
ton  village,  Frank  kept  the  boat  as  near  the 
shore  as  her  safety  would  permit.  The  boys 
rowed  with  remarkable  precision,  but  with  a 
very  slow  and  measured  stroke,  so  as  to  re 
serve  their  strength  for  the  long  pull  before 
them. 

"I  wonder  where  the  Bunkers  are,'*  said 
Charles. 

"They  haven't  been  seen  on  their  raft  for 
several  days." 

"I  suppose  they  got  sick  of  it  when  they 
saw  the  Zephyr,"  suggested  Fred  Harper. 

"  Very  likely ;  their  old  raft  didn't  look  much 
like  our  craft  when  we  went  round  them  the 
other  day,"  added  Mark  Leman. 

Charles  laughed  at  the  contrast 

"  What  do  you  say  to  landing  at  Rippleton  ?  " 
suggested  he,  as  they  approached  the  outlet  of 
the  lake. 

"What  for?"  asked  Frank, 


198  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"They  haven't  seen  our  new  uniform  down 
here,"  replied  Charles. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  not,"  said  the  coxswain. 

"Why  not,  Frank?  Let  us  march  through 
the  streets,  and  get  up  a  sensation." 

"I  would  rather  not.  Some  accident  might 
happen  to  the  boat  while  we  are  gone." 

"  Oh,  nonsense !  " 

"Suppose  the  Bunkers  should  happen  to  see 
it?  "  suggested  Frank. 

"They  wouldn't  dare  to  touch  it,"  replied 
Charles. 

"I  am  afraid  they  would." 

"If  I  were  coxswain,  I  would  let  you  land," 
said  Charles  sulkily. 

"That  isn't  fair,"  said  Tony. 

"Humph!  "  sneered  Charles. 

"  Don't  get  cross,  Charley,"  interposed  Frank. 

"Who's  cross?"  said  Charles,  throwing  down 
Ms  oar. 

"Mutiny!"  laughed  Fred  Harper. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  199 

"Well,  I  ain't  a-going  to  be  snubbed  round 
in  that  way." 

"Charley,  I  haven't  said  a  word  that  you 
need  take  offence  at,"  said  Frank  in  a  concil 
iatory  tone. 

"  That  he  hasn't,"  interposed  several. 

"  Yes,  you  have  ;  and  you  needn't  think  you 
are  going  to  tyrannize  over  me  in  that  way," 
persisted  Hardy. 

"Pull  steady,"  said  Frank  calmly,  as  he  put 
the  helm  hard  up. 

The  boat  came  round  in  a  graceful  circle ; 
and  to  the  surprise  of  all,  the  coxswain  headed 
her  directly  for  the  boat-house. 

"  I  thought  you  were  going  round  the  lake," 
said  Sam  Harper. 

"  Not  now,"  replied  Frank  quietly. 

The  boys  pulled  in  silence  for  several  minutes, 
and  Charles  Hardy  leaned  over  the  gunwale  and 
moodily  watched  the  ripples  on  the  side  of  the 
boat.  He  was  conscious  that  he  was  introducing 


200  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

dissension  into  the  club;  but  it  seemed  to  him 
that  Frank  was  ill-natured  in  not  gratifying  him 
when  he  proposed  to  land  at  Rippleton. 

The  Zephyr  was  rapidly  approaching  the  boat- 
house,  and  Frank  was  sweeping  her  round  so 
as  to  run  her  into  the  slip.  The  consequences 
of  his  behavior  occurred  to  him.  The  provis 
ions  of  article  six  of  the  constitution,  and  the 
penalty,  came  to  his  mind  with  appalling  force. 
His  conduct  would  be  immediately  reported  to 
the  Director,  and  probably  he  would  be  sus 
pended,  or  expelled  from  the  club.  He  could 
not  bear  to  think  of  such  a  thing. 

The  boat  in  a  minute  more  would  shoot  into 
the  boat-house,  and  it  would  be  too  late  to  apol 
ogize.  He  could  not  endure  the  idea  of  "giv 
ing  up,"  and  owning  that  he  was  in  the  wrong, 
but  to  be  suspended  or  expelled  was  a  more 
bitter  reflection. 

"Frank,"  said  he  in  a  gentle,  insinuating 
tone. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          201 

"Way  enough!"  cried  the  coxswain  promptly. 
"Stern  all!" 

"Forgive  me,  Frank,"  said  the  rebellious  oars 
man. 

"You  are  rather  late,  Charley;  but  better 
late  than  never.  We  are  almost  into  the  boat- 
house." 

"I  won't  give  you  any  more  trouble,  I  sol 
emnly  promise  it,  if  you  won't  say  anything 
about  it  this  time." 

"According  to  the  constitution  your  conduct 
must  be  reported." 

"Let  him  slide  this  time,"  interposed  Fred 
Harper. 

"I  freely  forgive  the  offence,  so  far  as  I  am 
concerned." 

"Your  father  won't  say  anything." 

"He  must  know  it,"  insisted  Frank  firmly. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  boys  ? "  called  Captain 
Sedley  from  the  shore. 

"Now  we  are  in  for  it!  "  added  Fred. 


202  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

Charles  Hardy  hung  his  head  with  shame. 
Gladly  would  he  have  recalled  his  hasty  words 
of  anger,  but  it  was  too  late.  They  had  been 
spoken,  and  he  must  abide  the  consequences. 

"  Give  way !  "  said  Frank  sadly,  for  he  would 
fain  have  avoided  the  explanation  which  his 
father  demanded. 

The  oarsmen  pulled,  and  the  boat  was  run 
into  the  house. 

"Keep  your  places,"  said  Frank,  as  he  leaped 
out  of  the  boat,  and  hastened  to  meet  his  father. 

Captain  Sedley  was  much  astonished  when  he 
heard  the  story  of  Charles's  sulkiness,  and  in 
sisted  that  he  should  come  ashore ;  but  Frank 
pleaded  for  him,  and  the  Director  finally  con 
sented,  as  it  was  the  first  offence  under  the 
new  constitution,  to  pardon  it. 

Frank,  delighted  with  his  success,  returned 
to  the  boat.  Giving  the  necessary  orders,  the 
Zephyr  shot  out  from  her  berth ;  and  he  steered, 
as  before,  towards  Rippleton.  Charles  was  deeply 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  203 

mortified  when  he  reflected  upon  his  quarrel 
some  behavior,  and  mentally  resolved  never  to 
be  guilty  of  such  conduct  again.  But  he  was 
anxious  to  know  what  disposition  Captain  Sed- 
ley  had  made  of  his  case,  and  whether  he 
should  be  held  to  answer  for  his  disobedience 
when  they  went  ashore.  He  did  not  like  to  say 
anything  about  it,  though,  at  first;  but  after  more 
reflection,  his  better  nature  overcame  his  pride. 

"Frank,"  said  he  with  a  smile. 

"Well,  Charley." 

"I  am  sorry  for  what  I  did." 

"  I  knew  you  were ;  and  for  that  reason  I 
begged  my  father  to  excuse  it,  and  have  noth 
ing  more  said  about  it." 

"  You  are  too  generous,  Frank ;  I  don't  de 
serve  it  of  you." 

"  It  was  an  offence  against  the  club  more 
than  against  me,"  replied  Frank.  "I  am  glad 
you  think  better  of  it." 

"I  never  will  do  it  again." 


204  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OS, 

"I  hope  not,  Charley.  You  know  the  con 
stitution  provides  for  a  new  coxswain  every  two 
weeks ;  when  you  are  chosen,  I  shall  obey  your 
orders." 

"I  don't  deserve  to  be  coxswain." 

"Well,  never  mind  it.     It  is  all  right  now." 

Good  feeling  was  again  restored,  and  the 
boys  once  more  began  to  enjoy  themselves.  The 
Zephyr  worked  admirably,  and  Frank  deported 
himself  with  so  much  dignity  and  firmness  that 
the  boys  rendered  the  most  unqualified  obedi 
ence  to  all  his  orders.  But  he  was  not  tyranni 
cal  nor  overbearing.  When  there  was  a  differ 
ence  of  opinion,  he  was  always  ready  to  yield  his 
own  inclination  to  the  wishes  of  the  majority. 

The  boat  passed  round  the  lower  end  of  the 
lake,  and  was  approaching  its  upper  extremity. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  exclaimed  Frank,  rising  from 
his  seat,  as  he  discovered  a  boat  lying  near  the 
shore  full  of  boys. 

"  Way  enough  I  "  said  he. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  205 

"  It  is  the  Bunkers  !  "  exclaimed  Tony.  "  I 
see  Tim  in  the  stern." 

"It  is  Joe  Braman's  boat,"  added  Fred  Har 
per.  "  Here  they  come." 

"  Twig  the  flags !  "  cried  Charles  Hardy. 

"In  imitation  of  the  Zephyr,"  said  Frank, 
laughing  heartily. 

The  boat  approached  near  enough  for  them 
to  examine  her.  It  was,  as  Fred  had  declared, 
Joe  Braman's  boat;  but  she  had  been  very 
much  altered.  Apparently  she  had  been  sawed 
in  two  and  lengthened  out.  She  had  been 
painted  bright  yellow,  with  a  red  streak  round 
her;  and  on  the  bows,  after  the  manner  of  the 
Zephyr,  was  inscribed,  in  black  letters,  the  name 
"  Thunderbolt,"  which  was  in  accordance  with 
Tim  Bunker's  taste.  She  was  pulled  by  eight 
oars,  and  the  redoubtable  leader  of  the  gang 
sat  in  the  stern-sheets  as  coxswain.  Forward 
floated  a  blue  cotton  rag,  with  the  letter  "T" 
daubed  upon  it  in  white  paint,  and  surrounded 


206  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

by  half  a  dozen  ill-shaped  stars.  At  the  stern 
was  a  ragged  piece  of  bunting,  which  had  once 
been  the  flag  of  the  Republic,  but  which  had 
been  curtailed  of  nine  of  its  stripes  and  a  part 
of  its  stars.  ,j 

The  Bunkers  evidently  had  not  practised 
rowing  much ;  for  their  stroke  was  irregular, 
and  they  splashed  the  water  about  like  so  many 
porpoises.  Occasionally  one  of  them  got  hit  in 
the  back  by  his  neighbor's  oar,  which  produced 
a  great  deal  of  swearing  and  wrangling  among 
them.  They  made  but  slow  progress  through 
the  water,  and  the  Zephyrs  could  scarcely  re 
frain  from  laughing  at  the  singular  spectacle. 


THE  BUNKEES  OF  EIPPLETON  207 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE   COLLISION 

JOB  BRAMAJST,  the  alleged  proprietor  of  the 
Thunderbolt,  was  an  idle,  dissolute  fellow,  who 
employed  his  time  in  gunning,  fishing,  and  loi 
tering  about  the  dramshops  of  Rippleton.  He 
lived  on  the  north  shore.  How  he  obtained  his 
living,  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  determine. 

Tim  Bunker  was  an  especial  favorite  with 
Braman,  and  people  said  it  was  because  there 
was  a  natural  sympathy  between  them.  Joe's 
boat  was  a  long,  flat-bottomed  affair,  not  very 
graceful  in  its  form  or  construction.  With  the 
exception  of  Captain  Sedley's  sailboat  and  the 
club  boat,  it  was,  perhaps,  the  only  boat  on 
the  lake ;  and  small  parties  occasionally  engaged 
Joe  to  take  them  out  fishing  in  it. 


208  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

The  history  of  its  present  appearance  was 
sufficiently  plain  to  the  Zephyrs.  It  had  been 
lengthened  out,  a  sharp,  false  bow  attached  to  it, 
painted,  and  such  other  improvements  made  as 
would  fit  it  for  the  purposes  of  a  club  boat. 

"  Isn't  she  one  of  the  boats  ?  "  laughed  Charles. 

"  Silence,  forward  !  "  said  Frank,  shaking  his 
head  as  a  gesture  of  warning  to  the  boys  not 
to  provoke  any  ill  nature. 

"Who  yer  lookin'  at?"  cried  Tim  Bunker, 
as  the  Thunderbolt  came  near  the  Zephyr. 

"  Good-morning,  Tim,"  said  Frank  pleasantly. 

"  Why  don't  yer  pull,  yer  lubbers  ?  "  shouted 
Tim. 

"You  have  a  new  boat,  I  see." 

"I'll  bet  we  have,"  replied  Tim,  bring 
ing  the  Thunderbolt  round  the  stern  of  the 
Zephyr. 

"Isn't  that  Joe  Braman's  boat?"  asked 
Charles. 

"No,  sir-ee !     It's  my  boat,"  answered  Tim. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  209 

"Did  you  buy  it  of  him?" 

"Didn't  do  nothin'  else." 

"What  did  you  give?" 

"  Ten  dollars,  and  five  for  fixin'  her  up," 
replied  Tim  with  a  great  deal  of  importance. 

"She  looks  very  well,"  continued  Charles. 

"  She'll  go  some,  you  better  believe." 

Tony  Weston  could  not  help  smiling  at  this 
conversation,  and  Tim  Bunker  unfortunately 
perceived  the  funny  expression  on  his  face.  It 
roused  his  anger. 

"Who  stole  the  wallet?"  said  he. 

This  taunt  roused  a  feeling  of  indignation  in 
the  soul  of  Fred  Harper;  and  he  so  far  forgot 
the  requirements  of  the  constitution  as  to  re- 


"Tim  Bunker." 

"  Le's  lick  'em,"  said  one  of  the  Bunkers. 
"  Give  way  !  "    exclaimed  Frank  with   energy, 
when  he  saw  the  storm  brewing. 

Mindful  of  the  discipline  of  the   club,  every 


210  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

member  obeyed  the  order,  and  the  Zephyr  darted 
away  from  the  belligerent  Thunderbolts. 

"Pooh!  Frank,  I  wouldn't  run  away  from 
them,"  said  Charles. 

"I  have  no  desire  to  quarrel  with  such  fel 
lows,"  replied  -Frank ;  "  and  I  hope  none  of  you 
will  say  anything  to  provoke  them.  That  was 
very  thoughtless  of  you,  Fred." 

"I  know  it;  but  somehow  I  couldn't  help 
it;  the  taunt  was  so  mean  and  contemptible. 
If  I  had  been  on  shore,  I  should  have  knocked 
him  over." 

"Article  six,"  said  Frank. 

"Here  they  come  after  us,"  added  Tony. 

The  boys  all  laughed  involuntarily  at  the  idea 
of  the  old  "gundelow,"  as  Fred  called  it,  chas 
ing  them. 

"They  can't  catch  us,"  continued  Frank. 

"I  guess  not,"  said  Charles. 

"But  I  am  sorry  we  provoked  them,  for  I 
had  a  little  plan  in  my  head." 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  211 

"What  is  it,  Frank?" 

"  Way  enough  !  Never  mind  it  now ;  we  are 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  them,  and  we  can 
easily  keep  out  of  their  way." 

"Frank,  we  are  running  too  near  the  shore," 
interposed  Tony.  "The  water  is  shoal  here,  you 
know." 

"  Stern  all !  Give  way !  "  exclaimed  the 
coxswain.  "I  was  watching  the  Bunkers 
so  closely  that  I  did  not  mind  where  we  were 
going." 

But  it  was  too  late.  The  Zephyr  had  not 
lost  her  headway,  and  darted  forward,  burying 
her  keel  in  the  mud-bank  at  the  bottom  of  the 
lake,  off  the  mouth  of  a  brook. 

"By  gracious!"  exclaimed  Charles  Hardy; 
"we  are  in  for  it  now." 

"  And  the  Bunkers  are  upon  us,"  added 
Frank,  very  much  perplexed  by  the  difficulties 
which  suddenly  surrounded  them. 

"  What  shall  be  done  ?  "  asked  Tony. 


212  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

"Let  them  come  on,"  replied  Fred.  "We 
can't  get  rid  of  them  now." 

"I  don't  want  to  fight  with  them,"  added 
Frank. 

The  Thunderbolt  was  approaching  them,  not 
very  rapidly,  it  was  true;  but  a  few  minutes 
would  involve  them  in  a  quarrel,  which  Frank 
and  a  large  majority  of  the  club  were  very 
anxious  to  avoid.  Tim  Bunker  was  standing 
up  in  the  stern-sheets  of  his  boat,  watching 
them  with  malignant  interest. 

"  Hurrah !  they  are  aground !  "  cried  Tim,  as 
soon  as  he  understood  the  nature  of  the  ca 
lamity  which  had  befallen  the  Zephyr.  "We 
have  them  now;  they  can't  run  away,  the 
cowardly  long  faces !  " 

"Come  aft,  some  of  you,"  said  Frank,  when 
he  heard  these  threatening  words.  "  The  water 
is  deep  enough  under  the  stern.  We  have  only 
run  into  a  mud-bank." 

On  the  starboard  side  of  the  boat  there  was 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  213 

plenty   of   water,  and    if   they   could   move   her 
back  a  rod  they  could  easily  escape. 

The  boys  obeyed  the  order  of  the  coxswain ; 
but  the  Zephyr  had  been  forced  so  deeply  into 
the  mud  that  her  bow  still  stuck  fast. 

"Half  a  dozen  of  you  set  your  oars  in  the 
mud,  and  push !  "  continued  Frank,  highly  ex 
cited  by  the  danger  that  menaced  them. 

But  it  was  of  no  use,  they  could  not  start  her. 

uThey  are  upon  us,"  said  Tony. 

"What  shall  we  do?"  asked  Frank,  sadly 
perplexed. 

"We  must  fight,"  said  Fred. 
,     "No;  I  am  not  willing  to  do  that." 

"  Shall  we  sit  here  and  let  them  pound  us 
as  much  as  they  have  a  mind  to  ? "  demanded 
Fred,  "But  you  are  coxswain,  Frank;  and  I, 
for  one,  shall  do  just  what  you  say," 

"So  shall  I!  "  said  another. 

"  And  I !  " 

And  so  they  all  said. 


214  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

Frank  was  more  and  more  embarrassed  as  the 
circumstances  multiplied  the  difficulties  around 
him.  He  was  charged  with  the  direction  of 
the  whole  club,  and  the  responsibility  of  his 
position  rested  heavily  upon  his  mind.  He  had 
been  taught  at  the  fireside  of  his  pious  home 
to  avoid  a  quarrel  at  almost  any  sacrifice ;  and 
he  was  painfully  conscious  that  the  indiscreet 
words  of  Fred  Harper  had  provoked  the  anger 
of  the  Bunkers.  Poor  fellow !  What  could  he 
do?  He  was  not  willing  to  order  them  to 
fight,  even  in  self-defence;  and  he  knew  that 
their  foes  would  whip  them  severely  if  they  did 
not.  The  Thunderbolt  was  within  a  few  rods 
of  them,  and  five  minutes  more  would  decide 
the  question. 

"  We  are  in  a  bad  fix ! "  said  Charles 
nervously.  "What  are  you  going  to  do, 
Frank?" 

"Tony,  take  your  boat-hook,  and  see  how 
deep  the  water  is  on  the  mud-bank." 


TEE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  215 

"Only  about  a  foot,"  replied  Tony,  as  he 
obeyed  the  order. 

"Is  the  mud  deep?" 

"Not  very,"  replied  Tony,  pushing  the  boat- 
hook  down. 

"I  want  two  volunteers,"  said  Frank  hur 
riedly. 

"I!  "  cried  Tony. 

"  I ! "  repeated  half  a  dozen  others. 

"Tony  and  Fred,  roll  up  your  trousers,  and 
jump  into  the  water.  You  can  easily  push  her 
off." 

"  Agreed !  "  cried  the  two  volunteers,  as  they 
hastened  to  execute  the  order. 

"  Six  of  you  take  your  oars ;  back  her  as  they 
push;  the  other  four  stay  in  the  stern-sheets 
to  settle  her  down  aft." 

"  Ay,  ay !  "  exclaimed  the  boys. 

"  Now  for  it !     Stern  all !     Give  way !  " 

The  effect  was  instantly  perceived;  the  boat 
was  moved  back  about  a  foot. 


216  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"Once  more,  all  together!"  said  Frank. 

Another  effort  backed  her  about  two  feet 
more,  and  the  case  began  to  look  hopeful. 

"  Again,  quick  !  they  are  upon  us !  Leap  in, 
Tony  and  Fred,  when  she  is  free.'* 

"  Heave  again !  "  said  Tony. 

Their  exertions  were  now  crowned  with  entire 
success,  and  the  Zephyr  darted  back  into  deep 
water;  but  an  unfortunate  occurrence  rendered 
all  their  labor  futile.  As  the  boat  slid  off  the 
mud-bank,  Tony  and  Fred,  in  their  attempt  to 
spring  on  board,  embarrassed  each  other's  move 
ments,  so  that  the  former  lost  his  hold,  and 
remained  standing  in  the  mud  and  water. 

At  this  instant  the  Thunderbolt  reached  the 
spot;  and  Tim  steered  directly  for  poor  Tony, 
whose  situation  he  discovered  the  moment  the 
Zephyr  was  free. 

"  Hit  him  !  "  screamed  Tim.  "  Pound  him 
with  yer  oars !  Drownd  him !  " 

Frank's  blood  seemed  to  freeze  in  his  veins, 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  217 

as  he  perceived  the  imminent  peril  of  his  friend. 
He  knew  the  Bunkers  would  not  spare  him, 
and  that  his  life  was  even  in  danger. 

Fortunately  the  Thunderbolt  grounded,  or 
Tony  would  inevitably  have  been  borne  under 
her  bottom.  Tim  seized  an  oar,  and  with  the 
ferocity  of  a  madman  sprang  forward  to  execute 
his  vengeance  on  the  helpless  boy. 

"Let  him  alone!"  shouted  Frank  with  fran 
tic  earnestness.  "  Up  oars  I  Let  fall  I  Give 
way !  " 

Frank  was  fully  roused,  and  his  orders  were 
delivered  with  rapidity  and  energy.  Seizing  the 
tiller-ropes,  he  steered  the  boat  as  she  gathered 
headway,  so  that  her  sharp  bow  struck  the 
Thunderbolt  on  her  broadside,  staving  in  her 
gunwale,  and  upsetting  her. 

The  Bunkers  thought  this  was  rather  sharp 
practice,  as  they  floundered  about  in  the  water. 
They  had  not  given  Frank  Sedley  credit  for 
half  so  much  determination.  They  had  never 


218  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OH, 

seen  anything  in  him  that  indicated  "grit"  be 
fore.  He  was  a  peaceable  boy,  always  avoiding 
a  quarrel ;  but  when  the  very  life  of  his  friend 
was  in  peril,  he  was  found  to  be  as  bold  and 
courageous  as  the  best  of  them. 

The  bow  of  the  Zephyr  was  swung  round  so 
that  Tony  could  get  in.  Washing  off  the  mud 
from  his  legs,  he  adjusted  his  trousers. 

In  the  meantime  the  Bunkers  had  righted 
their  boat,  and  resumed  their  places.  The  bath 
they  had  had  quite  cooled  their  belligerent 
heat;  though,  if  it  had  not,  Frank  had  taken 
the  precaution  to  back  the  Zephyr  out  of  their 
reach. 

"You'll  catch  it  for  this!"  exclaimed  Tim 
Bunker,  as  his  crew  were  bailing  out  the  Thun 
derbolt  with  their  hats. 

"I  am  sorry  for  what  has  happened,  Tim," 
replied  Frank,  "but  I  could  not  help  it." 

"Couldn't  help  it,  yer"  I  will  not  soil 
the  pages  of  my  book  by  writing  the  expression 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  219 

that  Tim  made  use  of.  "  Yes,  yer  could  help 
it.  What  d'yer  run  inter  me  for?" 

"You  threatened  to  drown  Tony,  and  if  your 
boat  had  not  got  aground  you  would  have  run 
him  down." 

"  That  I  would,  long  face  !  If  ever  I  catch 
either  of  yer,  I  will  lick  yer  within  an  inch  of 
yer  life  —  mind  that !  " 

"I  am  sorry  for  it,  Tim." 

"  Yer  lie,  yer  ain't !  " 

"It  was  all  my  fault,  Tim,"  interposed  Fred; 
"  and  I  will  pay  for  the  damage  done  your  boat." 

"I  guess  yer  better." 

"  How  much  will  you  take,  and  call  it 
square  ?  " 

"Dollar  and  a  half,"  growled  Tim,  glancing 
at  the  fractured  gunwale. 

Fred  had  not  so  much  money  with  him,  but 
the  sum  was  immediately  raised  in  the  club. 

"  Now,  Tim,  we  will  forgive  and  forget ;  what 
do  you  say?"  asked  Fred. 


220  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  I  don't  want  nothin'  on  yer ;  give  me  the 
money,  and  I  don't  care  what  yer  do." 

Frank  ordered  the  crew  to  pull  up  to  the 
Thunderbolt,  and  Fred  handed  Tim  the  money. 

"  I'll  pay  yer  for  this ;  see  'f  I  don't,"  said 
the  unforgiving  Bunker  as  the  Zephyr  backed 
away. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  221 


CHAPTER   XV 

CENTRE   ISLAND 

PRANK  SEDLEY  was  very  much  disturbed  by 
the  events  of  the  forenoon.  His  conscience  as 
sured  him,  however,  that  he  had  done  nothing 
wrong.  He  had  not  tried  to  provoke  a  quarrel 
with  the  Bunkers,  and  the  unpleasant  occur 
rences  of  the  past  hour  were  wholly  owing  to 
their  misfortune  in  getting  aground.  He  would 
not  have  been  justified,  he  felt,  in  leaving  Tony 
at  the  mercy  of  his  relentless  foes. 

Fred  Harper  had  done  wrong  in  replying  to 
the  taunt  of  Tim,  and  this  would  make  a  case 
for  the  decision  of  their  Director. 

"We  must  keep  away  from  them  hereafter," 
said  he,  as  the  Zephyr  came  about,  and  the 
crew  gave 'way  again. 


222  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  That  will  be  the  best  way,"  added  Tony. 

"  So  I  think,"  said  Charles ;  "  we  shall  be  all 
the  time  getting  into  scrapes  if  we  go  near  them." 

"We  can  go  near  them  without  meddling," 
interposed  Fred  Harper. 

"  But,  Fred,  you  remember  what  made  all  the 
fuss." 

"It  was  my  fault,  I  know." 

"I  don't  want  to  be  hard  with  you  while  I 
am  coxswain;  but  if  any  member  says  or  does 
anything  while  we  are  on  the  lake  to  get  us 
into  a  scrape,  I  shall  consider  it  my  duty  to 
land  him  immediately  at  the  boat-house.  What 
do  you  say  to  that  ?  " 

No  boy  spoke  for  a  moment ;  but  at  last 
Tony  said, — 

"  That  would  be  perfectly  fair." 

"I  want  to  have  it  understood,"  continued 
Frank.  "My  father  will  not  let  us  come  out 
alone  again  if  we  are  likely  to  have  such  a  time 
as  this  has  been." 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  223 

"Why  need  you  tell  him  anything  about  it, 
Frank?"  asked  Charles. 

"Because  it  is  right  that  he  should  know  it. 
Suppose  we  should  conceal  it,  and  then  he 
should  find  it  out  ?  " 

"  That  would  only  make  a  bad  matter  worse," 
replied  Tony. 

"For  one,  I  am  satisfied  to  have  any  fellow 
that  tries  to  get  us  into  a  scrape  put  ashore," 
said  Fred  Harper. 

"So  am  I,"  added  Tony. 

All  the  rest  of  the  club  expressed  themselves 
willing  to  comply  with  this  arrangement. 

"Now,  be  careful,  all  of  you,"  continued 
Frank,  "and  we  shall  have  no  more  trouble." 

"But  while  the  Bunkers  are  on  the  lake,  we 
can't  help  meeting  them,"  said  Sam  Harper. 

"We  need  not  say  anything  to  them." 

"But  that  would  not  be  civil." 

"We  can  answer  them  kindly  if  they  say 
anything  to  us,"  replied  Phil  Barker. 


224  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"They  won't  forget  the  smash-up,"  suggested 
Mark  Leman. 

"  We  can  easily  keep  out  of  their  way,"  added 
Fred. 

"Where  are  you  going  now,  Frank?"  asked 
Charles  Hardy. 

"  Isn't  it  almost  twelve  ? "  inquired  the  cox 
swain. 

"Half-past  eleven,"  returned  Fred  Harper, 
who  carried  a  watch.  "You  said  you  had  a 
plan,  Frank." 

"I  was  thinking  of  asking  Mrs.  Weston  and 
Mary  to  take  a  sail  with  us." 

"  Good !  "  replied  half  a  dozen  voices. 

"We  will  take  them  over  to  the  island." 

The  proposition  was  agreed  to,  and  Frank 
steered  the  boat  into  the  little  cove  near  the 
widow  Weston's  cottage. 

"Tony  and  Charles  shall  be  a  committee  to 
go  and  invite  them,"  said  Frank,  as  the  bow 
of  the  Zephyr  touched  the  land. 


THE  BUNEEES  OF  EIPPLETON  225 

The  two  jumped  ashore  to  discharge  the  duty 
assigned  them. 

"Where's  the  Thunderbolt?"  asked  Fred,  ris 
ing  from  his  seat. 

"There  she  goes  over  to  the  north  shore." 

"Putting  in  to  repair  damages." 

"Where  do  you  suppose  Tim  got  the  money 
to  buy  that  boat  with?"  asked  Fred,  looking 
seriously  at  Frank. 

"I  don't  know,"  replied  the  latter;  but  a 
gleam  of  intelligence  penetrated  his  mind.  "I 
hadn't  thought  of  it  before." 

"I  don't  know  either,  but  I  can  guess,"  said 
Fred. 

"You  might  guess  wrong." 

"Fifteen  dollars  is  a  great  deal  of  money  for 
a  boy  like  him  to  have.  His  father  works  in 
one  of  the  mills  at  Ripple  ton." 

"  Here  comes  Tony  with  his  sister  I  " 

"Where  is  your  mother,  Tony?" 

"She  couldn't  go,  but  she  said  Mary  might.** 


226  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  Stop  a  moment,  Tony,  and  we  will  bring 
the  stern  round  by  that  rock,"  said  Frank. 
"Stern  all!  Give  way!  Way  enough!  That 
will  do;  now  pull  on  the  larboard  and  back 
the  starboard  oars.  Give  way !  " 

The  stern  of  the  Zephyr  came  up  to  the  rock, 
and  the  gallant  coxswain  assisted  Mary  to  a 
seat  by  his  side.  Tony  and  Charles  resumed 
their  places  at  the  oars. 

"  How  pretty  your  boat  is !  "  exclaimed  Mary, 
delighted  with  the  appearance  of  the  Zephyr. 

"  Very  pretty  indeed.     Give  way !  " 

"But  won't  it  tip  over?"  cried  Mary,  as  the 
boat  darted  out  of  the  cove. 

"Oh,  no;  there  is  not  the  least  danger." 

"And  you  guide  it  with  those  strings?" 
asked  the  wondering  girl. 

"Yes;  they  are  fastened  to  that  crosspiece, 
you  see ;  and  when  I  pull  them,  it  moves  the 
rudder." 

"What  is  the  rudder,  Frank?" 


TEE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          227 

« You  can  see  only  the  upper  end  of  it ; 
but  it  is  a  flat  piece  of  wood,  which  acts 
upon  the  water,  and  turns  the  boat,"  replied 
the  obliging  coxswain,  illustrating  his  explana 
tion  by  means  of  his  hands. 

"  Oh,  my !  how  swift  it  goes !  " 

"Not  very  fast  now." 

"Why,  it  goes  like  a  racehorse." 

The  boys  smiled  at  Mary's  enthusiasm. 

"Let  her  drive  a  little,  Frank,"  suggested 
Fred  Harper. 

Frank  commenced  swaying  his  body  back  and 
forth,  increasing  in  rapidity  till  the  boys  put 
forth  their  utmost  exertion.  Mary  held  on  to 
the  gunwale  of  the  boat,  as  her  speed  aug 
mented,  and  she  seemed  almost  to  fly  through 
the  water. 

"  Isn't  it  beautiful !  "  exclaimed  Mary. 

Frank  was  so  intent  upon  the  movements  of 
the  excited  crew  that  he  scarcely  noticed  thejf 
had  nearly  reached  the  north  shore. 


228  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

"Way  enough!  "  said  he. 

"I  should  think  they  would  be  very  tired," 
added  Mary. 

"  Perhaps  they  are ;  we  came  over  very  quick  j 
the  distance  is  more  than  a  mile." 

"  Twig  the  Bunkers !  "  said  Charles. 

The  Zephyr  was  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  landing  in  front  of  Joe  Braman's  house. 
The  Thunderbolt  had  just  put  in  there,  and  as 
they  approached  Joe  and  Tim  were  examining 
the  nature  of  the  damages  the  boat  had  sus 
tained. 

"  What  does  he  say,  Tony  ?  "  asked  Fred. 
[    "  He  says  he  can  easily  fix  it." 

"  Give  way !  "  said  Frank,  giving  the  rowers 
glow  time. 

Steering  the  boat  round  by  Joe  Braman's  land 
ing,  they  saw  Joe  go  into  the  house,  and  return 
with  a  hammer  and  some  nails,  with  which  he 
proceeded  to  nail  a  piece  of  board  over  the 
fracture  in  the  side  of  the  Thunderbolt. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  229 

"  I  can't  fix  it  any  better  to-day ;  I'm  going 
to  Boston  in  the  two-o'clock  train." 

"Will  that  hold?"  asked  Tim. 

"  Yes ;  she  won't  leak.  Now  just  row  me 
over  to  Rippleton." 

"  There  is  the  villains  of  long  faces,"  said  Tim, 
pointing  at  the  Zephyr.  "  Jump  in,  fellers,  and 
just  throw  some  of  them  stones  into  the  boat. 
We'll  give  it  to  'em  yet." 

"Joe's  going  to  Boston,"  said  Fred. 

"So  he  says." 

The  Bunkers  threw  the  stones  into  their  boat, 
and  then  got  in  themselves.  In  imitation  of 
the  discipline  of  the  Zephyr,  the  oars  were  first 
placed  in  a  perpendicular  position,  and  then 
dropped  into  the  water. 

"Pull,"  said  Tim,  steering  directly  towards 
the  Zephyr. 

"  Most  twelve,"  suggested  Fred  Harper,  with 
a  significant  glance  at  Frank. 

44  Give  way  I "  replied  the  latter,  smiling. 


230  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  Want  to  race  ?  "  shouted  Tim. 

"With  the  greatest  pleasure." 

"Come  alongside,  then,  and  we  will  take  a 
fair  start." 

"  No,  you  don't  I  "  said  Frank  in  a  low  tone, 
apprehending  an  attack  from  his  quarrelsome 
rival.  "  I  will  give  you  twenty  rods  the  start," 
continued  he  aloud. 

"You  darssent  come,"  sneered  Tim. 

Joe  Braman  was  seen  to  speak  to  Tim,  and 
instantly  the  Thunderbolt  was  headed  towards 
the  Zephyr. 

"  Pull  with  all  your  might !  "  cried  Tim  Bun 
ker. 

"Drive  'em  into  that  'ere  cove,  and  then  you 
can  fix  'em,"  said  Joe. 

But  Frank  gave  the  cove  a  "wide  berth.'* 
A  very  little  exertion  on  the  part  of  the  club 
was  sufficient  to  keep  them  out  of  the  reach  of 
the  Bunkers,  and  they  continued  their  course 
leisurely  towards  Centre  Island. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  231 

Joe  Braman  saw  that  the  chase  was  hope 
less  ;  and  at  his  suggestion  the  Thunderbolt 
abandoned  the  pursuit,  and  steered  towards  Rip- 
pleton. 

"Those  are  dreadful  bad  boys,"  said  Mary 
Weston,  when,  to  her  intense  relief,  she  saw 
them  give  up  the  chase. 

"  That  they  are ;  but  our  boat  is  so  much 
swifter  than  theirs  that  we  can  easily  keep  out 
of  their  way." 

"Do  you  suppose  they  really  meant  to  stone 

you?" 

"I  have  no  doubt  of  it." 

"Nearly  twelve,"  said  Fred  Harper,  looking 
at  his  watch. 

"  Give  way,  my  lads ;  we  will  be  there  in 
time. 

The  clock  on  the  distant  church  was  striking 
twelve  when  they  touched  at  the  island.  The 
Zephyr  was  turned  round  and  backed  in  shore, 
so  that  Mary  could  land  conveniently. 


232  TEE  BOAT  CLUP  •    OB, 

"How  do  you  do,  Mary?  I  am  glad  to  see 
you,"  said  Captain  Sedley,  as  he  helped  her  on 
shore.  "And,  Frank,  your  mother  is  coming 
over.  The  wind  was  so  light,  we  could  not  sail. 
Will  you  row  her  over?" 

"Oh,  yes,  father." 

"I  suppose  you  are  more  ready  and  willing 
than  the  boys  who  pull  the  boat." 

"We  are  all  ready  and  willing,"  shouted  the 
boys. 

"  Hurrah !  so  we  are,"  added  Charles  Hardy. 

"She  is  waiting  in  the  boat-house." 
.The  Zephyr  pushed  off  again,  and  in  a  very- 
few  minutes  returned  with  Mrs.  Sedley  as  pas 
senger.  Frank  was  delighted  to  show  his  mother 
how  skilful  the  club  had  become,  and  she  was 
much  pleased  with  her  excursion. 

Uncle  Ben  secured  the  boat  to  a  tree,  and 
the  boys  all  landed.  Everything  was  ready  for 
their  reception.  The  table,  which  was  covered 
with  every  description  of  "nice  things,"  was 


TEE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  233 

laid  under  the  shade  of  a  tall  oak  in  the  minia 
ture  forest. 

Captain  Sedley  sat  at  one  end,  and  Uncle  Ben 
at  the  other.  Mrs.  Sedley  and  Mary  were  on 
the  right.  The  Director  prefaced  the  entertain 
ment  with  a  few  remarks,  and  then  invited  them 
to  do  justice  to  the  feast  that  was  set  before 
them. 

"  All  ready !  "  exclaimed  Captain  Sedley  with 
a  loud  voice. 

The  boys  all  wondered  what  made  him  speak 
so  very  loud;  and  Frank  perceived  a  mysterious 
smile  on  the  lips  of  his  mother,  and  he  was 
quite  sure  it  meant  something. 

Suddenly,  and  to  the  intense  surprise  of  all 
the  boys,  a  band,  which  had  been  stationed  in  the 
grove  near  them,  struck  up  "Hail  Columbia." 

"Hurrah!  "  cried  Charles  Hardy  in  a  burst 
of  enthusiastic  delight. 

The  music  was  an  unexpected  treat;  and  as 
the  Rippleton  Brass  Band  poured  forth  its  most 


234  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

inspiring  strains,  there  were  no  bounds  to  the 
delight  of  the  boys.  But  the  music  did  not 
prevent  their  doing  ample  justice  to  the  viands 
set  before  them. 

After  the  collation  was  finished,  Frank  told 
his  father  all  the  circumstances  of  their  morn 
ing  excursion.  Captain  Sedley  did  not  blame 
Fred  very  much  for  the  taunt  he  had  used,  con 
sidering  the  provocation.  He  was  satisfied  that 
the  boat-club  organization  would  correct  such  in 
discretions  in  due  time.  He  decided,  however, 
that  Fred  should  submit  to  some  penalty,  to  be 
affixed  at  another  time,  and  that  Frank  was 
right  in  not  leaving  Tony  at  the  mercy  of  the 
Bunkers. 

Frank  continued  his  story,  and  incidentally 
remarked  that  the  Bunkers  had  just  rowed  Joe 
Braman  to  Rippleton,  where  he  intended  to  take 
the  cars  for  Boston. 

Captain  Sedley  mused  a  moment. 

"The  cars   start  at  two    o'clock,"    said    he, 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          235 

consulting  his  watch.  "  Boys,  I  must  go  to 
Boston,  and  you  must  row  me  down  to  the 
village  as  quickly  as  you  can." 

"  Zephyrs,  ahoy !  "  shouted  Frank. 

The  club  were  in  their  seats  in  a  moment, 
and  the  Zephyr  darted  away  towards  Ripple- 
ton. 


236  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE  GEOGRAPHY   OF   WOOD   LAKE 

CAPTAIN  SEDLEY  reached  the  depot  just  in 
time  to  take  the  two-o'clock  train ;  and  the 
club  returned  to  Centre  Island,  where  another 
hour  was  spent  very  pleasantly  in  listening  to 
the  music  of  the  band,  and  in  such  amuse 
ments  as  the  ingenuity  of  boys  can  devise. 

"But  at  last  they  grew  tired  of  the  land. 
The  beautiful  Zephyr,  resting  so  lightly  and 
gracefully  on  the  water,  seemed  to  invite  them 
to  more  congenial  sports. 

44  Mother,  won't  you  let  us  row  you  round 
the  lake?"  asked  Frank.  "We  want  to  go 
on  an  exploring  voyage." 

"With  pleasure;  but  the  band  is  engaged 
for  all  the  afternoon." 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  237 

" Can't  we  take  them  in  the  boat?" 

"I'm  afraid  it  is  not  large  enough;  there 
are  thirteen  musicians." 

"  That  would  be  first-rate  —  music  on  the 
water !  "  exclaimed  Charles  Hardy. 

"What  do  you  think,  Uncle  Ben?"  asked 
Mrs.  Sedley. 

"I  don't  think  it  would  be  safe,  marm." 

"I  am  afraid  not." 

"  Oh,  yes,  it  would !  "  cried  Charles,  disap 
pointed  at  the  thought  of  resigning  the  plan. 

"  There  is  not  room  enough  in  the  Zephyr 
for  them.  But  there's  a  little  breeze  springing 
up,  and  I'll  take  them  in  the  sailboat." 

"  That  will  do  just  as  well,"  replied  Mrs. 
Sedley. 

"But  you  can't  keep  up  with  us,  Uncle 
Ben,"  said  Charles. 

"  Then  you  must  go  slower." 

"  Zephyrs,  ahoy !  "  cried  Frank. 

The   club  hastened  to  the  boat,   and   seated 


238  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

themselves.  The  musicians  found  ample  room 
in  the  large  sailboat. 

"Stop  a  minute,  mother,  till  we  go  about 
and  bring  the  stem  in  shore,"  said  Frank,  as 
he  gave  the  word  to  elevate  the  oars. 

Uncle  Ben  and  his  party  had  already  got 
under  way,  and  the  band  commenced  playing 
"Wood  Up,"  as  the  sailboat  slowly  gathered 
headway. 

The  Zephyr  backed  in,  and  Mrs.  Sedley  and 
Mary  Weston  were  assisted  to  their  seats  by 
the  gallant  young  coxswain. 

"  Give  way ! "  said  Frank ;  and  the  club 
boat  shot  out  from  the  land. 

"How  fine  the  music  sounds  on  the  water  I" 
said  Mary. 

"Beautiful,"  replied  Mrs.  Sedley.  "I  am 
sorry  your  mother  is  not  with  us,  Mary." 

"She  could  not  come  before  dinner." 

"Would  she  join  us  now,  do  you  think?" 

"I  guess  she  would." 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  239 

"We  can  go  and  see,  at  any  rate,"  said 
Frank.  "Uncle  Ben  is  steering  that  way." 

"Do,  Frank;  I  have  something  I  wish  to  say 
to  her." 

"Bunkers!  "  exclaimed  Fred  Harper. 

"Where?" 

"Coming  up  from  Rippleton." 

"I  hope  they  will  keep  away  from  us,"  added 
Frank,  whose  forenoon  experience  was  still  re 
membered. 

"They  will  want  to  hear  the  music." 

"You  must  keep  near  Uncle  Ben,  Frank." 

The  Zephyr  was  rapidly  approaching  the  Sylph, 
as  the  sailboat  was  called. 

"  I  wish  they  would  play  '  Old  Folks  at 
Home,'  "  said  Charles. 

"We  can  ask  them  to  do  so." 

Suddenly  Frank  stood  up  in  his  place. 

"  Way  enough !  "  said  he  with  a  smile. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ? "  asked  his 
mother. 


240  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

"I  am  going  to  execute  a  manoeuvre;  and, 
boys,  I  want  you  to  be  prompt  in  your  move 
ments." 

"  Ay,  ay !  "  shouted  the  club. 

"  Now,  then,  give  way !  " 

Frank  swayed  his  body  for  a  few  moments 
with  great  rapidity,  and  of  course  the  stroke 
of  the  rowers  corresponded  to  his  motions.  The 
Zephyr  darted  forward  with  a  speed  which  sur 
prised  Mrs.  Sedley. 

"  Way  enough !  "  cried  Frank,  when  the  boat 
came  within  a  few  rods  of  the  Sylph. 

"  Be  careful,  my  son ;  you  will  run  against 
her,"  interposed  Mrs.  Sedley,  as  she  involun 
tarily  grasped  the  gunwale  of  the  boat. 

The  dripping  oars  were  all  extended  at  the 
same  height  from  the  water,  at  the  command 
of  the  coxswain. 

"Up  oars!  "  continued  he. 

"You  will  certainly  run  against  them,  Frank," 
repeated  Mrs.  Sedley.  "Pray  don't  be  careless." 


TEE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  241 

"There  is  nothing  to  fear,  mother." 

Indeed,  the  Zephyr  was  approaching  fearfully 
near  the  Sylph,  and  even  Uncle  Ben  began  to 
feel  a  little  uneasy. 

M  Port  your  helm,  Frank !  "  shouted  the  veto* 
ran. 

"Keep  her  steady,  Uncle  Ben.'* 

Frank,  looking  through  the  two  rows  of  per 
pendicular  oars,  steered  the  Zephyr  alongside 
her  companion,  and  passed  within  a  very  few 
inches  of  her. 

"Play  'Old  Folks  at  Home,'  if  you  please," 
said  he,  as  the  boat  darted  by  the  sluggish 
Sylph. 

"  That  was  a  little  too  close,  my  son,"  said 
Mrs.  Sedley. 

"We  are  perfectly  safe,  mother,  are  we 
not?" 

"  We  are ;  but,  Frank,  you  should  never 
expose  yourself,  and  especially  not  others,  to 
needless  peril." 


242  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

"We  were  in  no  danger." 

"I  think  you  were." 

"  The  Zephyr  is  under  perfect  control ;  she 
feels  the  slightest  turn  of  the  rudder." 

"Suppose  Uncle  Ben's  boat  had  swerved  a 
little  from  her  course?" 

"There  was  no  fear  of  that." 

"You  do  not  know.  If  it  had,  we  might 
have  been  drowned,  many  of  us  at  least." 

Frank  looked  serious. 

"Ask  Uncle  Ben  what  he  thinks  about  it." 

"  Let  fall .  "  said  Frank. 

The  boys  began  to  pull  again,  and  the  cox 
swain  steered  so  as  to  bring  the  Zephyr  in  a 
circle  round  the  Sylph. 

"Now  we  will  keep  alongside,  but  at  a  safe 
distance,"  said  he,  as  he  laid  her  course  parallel 
with  that  of  his  companion. 

The  band  was  preparing  to  play  the  tune 
which  Frank  had  requested.  The  Sylph  was 
making  very  good  progress  through  the  water, 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  243 

and  the  rowers  kept  pulling  with  a  very  slow 
stroke. 

"You  were  careless,  Frank,"  said  Uncle  Ben, 
when  the  band  stopped  playing. 

"Do  you  think  so,  Uncle  Ben?" 

"  Very  careless ;  in  the  navy  they  would  have 
put  you  in  irons  for  it.  There  arn't  no  need 
of  risking  the  lives  of  your  crew  in  that  way. 
If  it  had  been  to  save  the  life  of  a  feller-creter, 
or  anything  of  that  sort,  there  would  have  been 
some  sense  in  it." 

"  I  didn't  think  there  was  any  danger,"  re 
turned  Frank,  not  a  little  troubled  by  the  vet 
eran's  censure. 

"I'm  sailin'  right  afore  the  wind,  you  see, 
and  the  boat  swings  fore  and  aft,  like  a  French 
dancing-master.  If  she  had  a  swayed  only  a  leetle 
grain,  we  might  all  have  gone  to  the  bottom." 

"I  never  will  be  so  careless  again." 

"You  were  all-fired  careless,  Frank,"  said 
Charles  Hardy. 


244  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

Fred  Harper  could  not  help  turning  round 
and  looking  the  speaker  full  in  the  face  to 
reprove  him  for  his  interference. 

Frank  felt  the  rebuke  of  his  friend,  and  was 
not  a  little  hurt  by  the  reproach,  coming  as  it 
did  from  one  whom  he  had  used  with  so  much 
lenity  —  for  whom  he  had  so  strenuously  inter 
ceded  with  his  father. 

"Hush  up!  Charley,"  said  Fred  in  a  low 
tone.  "Don't  you  know  any  better  than 
that?" 

The  band  now  struck  up  "  Old  Folks  at 
Home." 

"Let  us  sing,"  said  Frank. 

"So  I  say,"  replied  Tony. 

"Wait  till  they  come  to  the  chorus,"  added 
Fred. 

At  the  right  moment  the  boys  commenced 
the  chorus,  and  the  effect  was  very  pleasing. 
Mrs.  Sedley  and  Mary's  voices  were  heard  with 
the  others,  and  all  were  delighted. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  245 

44  Here's  the  cove,"  said  Frank,  when  the  band 
ceased  playing.  "We  were  going  on  a  voyage 
of  discovery  this  afternoon,  to  name  the  bays 
and  points  of  land.  What  shall  we  call  this 
cove?" 

"  Weston  Bay,"  suggested  Fred. 

"  Agreed !  "  answered  a  dozen  members. 

"And  that  mud-bank  over  there,  where  we 
got  aground  this  morning,  we  will  call  Bunker's 
Shoal,"  continued  Fred. 

"I  think  not,"  said  Mrs.  Sedley.  "That 
would  be  casting  a  reflection  upon  those  boys." 

"What  shall  we  call  it?" 

"Black  Shoal,"  replied  Tony.  "The  mud 
on  it,  I  know  from  personal  experience,  is  very- 
black." 

"Black  Shoal  it  is,"  replied  Frank,  directing 
the  boat  into  the  little  bay. 

The  invitation  of  Mrs.  Sedley  was  quite  suffi 
cient  to  induce  Mrs.  Weston  to  join  the  "ex 
ploring  expedition  j "  and  the  committee  that  had 


246  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

been  deputed  to  wait  upon  her  soon  returned, 
escorting  her  to  the  boat. 

"Dear  me!  won't  it  tip  over?"  exclaimed 
the  poor  woman,  when  she  had  placed  one  foot 
in  the  boat. 

"  She  is  perfectly  safe,"  replied  Frank,  assist 
ing  her  to  a  seat. 

The  boat  pushed  off  again,  and  joined  the 
Sylph.  The  band  commenced  playing  a  popu 
lar  march;  and  all  the  party,  with  the  excep 
tion  of  Mrs.  Weston,  who  had  her  suspicions 
as  to  the  stability  of  the  beautiful  Zephyr,  were 
in  the  highest  state  of  enjoyment. 

Farther  up  the  lake  there  was  a  projecting 
headland,  at  the  end  of  which,  separated  from 
the  shore  by  a  narrow  passage  of  water,  not 
more  than  ten  feet  in  width,  was  a  small,  rocky 
island.  This  island  and  its  vicinity  were  the 
next  points  of  interest  deserving  the  attention 
of  the  voyagers,  and  thither  Frank  steered  the 
boat, 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  247 

"Boys,  you  all  study  geography,  do  you 
not?"  asked  Mrs.  Sedley. 

"  All  of  us,  mother,"  replied  Frank. 

"Did  it  ever  occur  to  you  that  all  the  nat 
ural  divisions  of  water,  on  a  small  scale,  could 
be  seen  in  Wood  Lake  ?  " 

44 Can  they?"  asked  Charles.  "I  would  not 
have  believed  it." 

"I  never  thought  of  it  before,"  added  Frank. 

44  Years  ago,  before  I  was  married,  I  used  to 
teach  school,"  continued  Mrs.  Sedley;  "and  my 
scholars  always  found  it  difficult  to  remember 
the  definitions  of  the  natural  divisions  of  the 
earth.  What  do  you  think  the  reason  was  ? " 

"I  suppose  they  did  not  half  learn  them," 
replied  Fred. 

"They  did  not  understand  them.  When  we 
spoke  of  a  gulf,  for  example,  they  thought  of 
something  a  great  way  off  —  as  far  as  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  or  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence." 

"I  am  sure  I  never  thought  of  them  as  any- 


248  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

thing  that  I  had  ever  seen,  or  was  ever  likely 
to  see,"  added  Charles,  who  always  had  some 
thing  to  say,  and  who  tried  to  get  the  good 
will  of  others  by  appearing  to  be  humble  and 
teachable. 

The  other  boys  were  equally  tractable,  but 
from  another  motive.  Mrs.  Sedley's  geography 
lesson  was  full  of  interest  to  them;  and  as  they 
pulled  slowly,  they  gave  all  their  attention  to 
what  she  said. 

"I  took  them  out  one  day  to  a  pond  near 
the  schoolhouse,  where  I  pointed  out  almost  all 
the  divisions  of  water,  and  then  on  a  hill,  to 
show  them  the  divisions  of  land." 

"But  you  could  not  find  them  all." 

"All  but  one  or  two;  there  was  no  volcano." 

"Was  there  a  desert?" 

"A  small  one." 

"  Hurrah !  we  can  find  them  all,"  cried  Charles. 
"  I  missed  just  such  a  question  last  week  in 
school." 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETO*  249 

"I  made  a  volcano  on  the  Fourth  of  July," 
said  Fred  Harper. 

"Indeed!  how?" 

"I  took  a  handful  of  powder,  wet  it,  and 
then  placed  it  on  a  board.  Then  I  covered  it 
over  with  a  coat  of  wet  clay,  leaving  a  little 
hole  at  the  top,  with  some  dry  powder  on  it." 

"That  was  the  crater,"  added  Charles. 

"Yes;  and  then  I  touched  it  off.  It  was 
in  the  evening,  and  it  looked  just  like  Mount 
Vesuvius  in  the  panorama." 

"Now,  boys,"  continued  Mrs.  Sedley,  "who 
can  tell  me  what  an  ocean  is?" 

"  The  largest  body  of  water,"  replied  several. 

"What  shall  represent  the  ocean  here?" 

"The  lake." 

"  Very  well ;  what  is  a  sea  ?  " 

"A  portion  of  water  smaller  than  an  ocean, 
and  nearly  surrounded  by  land." 

"We  are  in  one  now,"  said  Frank. 

He  had  steered  the  Zephyr  into  a  corner  of 


250  THE  BOAT  CLUB ;    OR, 

the  lake  which  was  partly  enclosed  by  the  pro 
jecting  headland  and  island  and  the  main  shore. 

"What  sea  shall  we  call  it?"  said  Fred. 

The  boys  looked  around  them  for  some  object 
that  would  suggest  a  name. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  251 


CHAPTER   XVII 

OVERBOAKD 

THERE  was  no  visible  object  which  seemed 
to  suggest  a  name  for  the  miniature  sea ;  but 
just  then  the  band  began  to  play  "Washing 
ton's  March." 

"Call  it  Washington  Sea,  boys,"  said  Mrs. 
Sedley. 

The  name  was  given,  but  the  geography 
lesson  could  not  proceed  while  the  music  con 
tinued. 

"  Stand  by  to  lay  on  your  oars !  "  Frank 
commanded.  "  Oars  !  " 

The  oarsmen  levelled  their  oars,  feathering 
the  blades,  and  listening  to  the  march.  The 
Bunkers,  attracted  by  the  music  of  the  band, 
followed  the  Sylph  at  a  respectful  distance. 


252  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    ORy 

The  presence  of  Uncle  Ben  and  Mrs.  Sedley 
was  a  restraint  upon  them,  and  they  conducted 
themselves  with  tolerable  decorum.  The  band 
ceased  playing,  and  Mrs.  Sedley  continued  her 
instructions. 

"What  is  a  gulf  or  bay?" 

"  A  portion  of  the  sea  extending  into  the 
land." 

"  Can  you  give  me  an  example  ?  " 

"Weston  Bay,"  replied  Fred,  laughing. 

"  And  perhaps,  before  the  expedition  con 
cludes  its  voyage,  we  shall  find  something 
which  may  be  called  a  gulf." 

"I  know  where  there  is  a  gulf,"  said  Charles. 

"  Now,  Frank,  you  may  go  through  the  strait," 
said  Fred. 

"Is  it  safe?  I  don't  know  how  deep  the 
water  is." 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you  are  careful,"  said 
Mrs.  Sedley.  "You  can  ask  Uncle  Ben." 

"  Sylph,  ahoy !  "  shouted  Frank,  rising. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  253 

"What  boat's  that?"  roared  Uncle  Ben,  in 
reply. 

"The  Zephyr,  of  and  from  Rippleton,"  re 
turned  the  coxswain.  "  Can  you  tell  me  what 
depth  of  water  there  is  in  this  passage  ?  " 

"Where's  your  chart?" 

"We  must  have  a  chart  of  the  lake,"  sug 
gested  Fred. 

"That  we  must.     Who  shall  draw  it?" 

"Fred  Harper." 

"We  have  no  chart.  Will  you  give  me  the 
depth  of  water  inside  the  island  ? "  continued 
Frank. 

"Short  fathom,"  replied  Uncle  Ben. 

"  We  are  none  the  wiser,"  interposed  Charles. 
"  How  much  is  a  fathom  ?  " 

"Six  feet,"  answered  Tony. 

"But  he  don't  say  how  much  short." 

"Can  we  go  through  in  safety,  Uncle  Ben?" 

"Ay,  ay;   but  trail  your  oars." 

Frank  let  the  crew  pull  several  smart  strokes, 


254  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

and  then  ordered  them  to  trail.  The  Zephyi 
darted  through  the  narrow  passage. 

"  Now  for  the  name  of  the  strait,"  said  Frank. 

"  You  seem  to  be  at  a  loss  for  names ;  I 
think  you  had  better  call  these  divisions  after  the 
members  of  the  club,"  suggested  Mrs.  Sedley. 

"  So  we  can ;  the  memory  of  great  travellers 
and  navigators  has  been  handed  down  to  their 
posterity  by  geographical  names,  —  Hudson  Bay, 
Mount  Franklin,  Cook's  Straits,  for  example," 
said  Fred  Harper,  laughing  heartily. 

The  proposition  received  a  ready  assent;  and 
the  strait  was  called  Graham  Strait,  after  the 
boy  who  pulled  the  second  oar. 

"But  the  island?"  said  Charles. 

"  Paul  Spencer  pulls  the  third  oar ;  we  will 
call  it  Spencer  Island." 

The  position  of  the  boat  was  a  favorable  one 
for  observing  the  conformation  of  the  country, 
and  Mrs.  Sedley  improved  the  opportunity  to 
point  out  the  various  divisions  of  the  land. 


TEE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          255 

Half-way  between  Centre  Island  and  the  north 
shore  was  another  island ;  and  after  coasting 
along  by  the  banks  of  the  lake,  applying  names 
to  miniature  sounds,  bays,  gulfs,  and  seas,  the 
Zephyr  arrived  at  its  southerly  side. 

44 Here  is  a  channel,"  said  Frank;  "a  passage 
of  water  wider  than  a  strait." 

"  Fred's  turn ;  we  must  call  it  Harper  Chan 
nel,"  replied  Tony. 

"  And  the  island  ?  —  we  are  out  of  names," 
continued  Frank. 

"We  will  call  it  Mary's  Island,  after  Mary 
Weston." 

44  Agreed!  "  cried  a  dozen  boys  at  once. 

44 1  thank  you  for  the  compliment,"  said  Mary, 
blushing. 

The  excursion  was  continued,  the  boys  rowing 
leisurely,  and  pausing  frequently  to  listen  to  the 
music  of  the  band,  and  discuss  the  geographical 
formation  of  the  lake  and  its  shores.  They 
passed  entirely  round  the  lake,  and  had  given 


256  THE  BOAT  CLUB ;    OR, 

so  many  names  to  the  various  divisions  of  land 
and  water,  that  it  seemed  improbable  they  could 
ever  remember  them. 

As  they  came  round  to  the  boat-house,  Mrs. 
Sedley  was  landed,  and  the  club  rowed  up  to 
Weston  Bay,  to  leave  the  widow  and  her  daugh 
ter.  Both  the  passengers  were  delighted  with 
their  excursion,  and  were  profuse  of  their  thanks 
to  Frank  and  his  companions  for  their  kindness 
and  consideration. 

"  What  shall  we  do  now  ?  "  said  Charles,  as 
they  pushed  off. 

"  Hadn't  we  better  give  up  for  to-day  ?  "  sug 
gested  Frank. 

"  Let  us  go  down  to  Rippleton  for  your  father," 
added  Fred. 

"  I  will  do  that,"  answered  Frank ;  and  the 
Zephyr  dashed  away  towards  the  village. 

They  had  scarcely  passed  the  boat-house  before 
they  discovered  the  Thunderbolt,  directly  ahead 
of  them.  Uncle  Ben  had  landed  the  band  at 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  257 

Rippleton,  and  had  housed  the  Sylph,  so  that 
the  Bunkers  would  no  longer  be  restrained  by 
his  presence  and  that  of  Mrs.  Sedley.  But 
there  was  no  way  to  avoid  them,  and  Frank 
continued  his  course  with  some  misgivings  as 
to  the  consequences. 

"  Bunkers  ahead !  "  said  he. 

"Never  mind  them,  Frank,'*  added  Fred  Har 
per.  "We  won't  say  anything  to  them." 

"Tim  will  get  his  revenge  upon  us  for  this 
morning  if  he  can,"  suggested  the  coxswain. 

"We  can  keep  out  of  his  way,  though  I  don't 
like  the  idea  of  running  away  from  them,"  replied 
Fred. 

"I  like  it  better  than  I  do  the  idea  of  fight 
ing  with  them.  But  the  lake  is  narrow  near 
the  village,"  said  Frank. 

"We  can  row  two  rods  to  their  one." 

"  They  have  improved  a  great  deal  by  their 
day's  practice.  They  are  resting  on  their  oars, 
waiting  for  us." 


258  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  Let  them  wait ;  we  will  mind  nothing  about 
them." 

The  Zephyr  continued  on  her  course.  It  was 
necessary  for  her  to  pass  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  Thunderbolt,  and  Frank  feared  they  would 
retaliate  upon  them  for  their  discomfiture  in  the 
forenoon. 

"  Let  every  member  of  the  club  mind  his  oar," 
said  he,  as  the  boat  approached  the  vicinity  of 
the  Bunkers ;  "  I  will  watch  them ;  I  want 
you  to  mind  what  I  say,  and  work  quick  when 
I  speak." 

"We  will,"  answered  the  boys. 

"I  suspect,  if  they  mean  anything,  that  they 
intend  to  rush  upon  us  when  we  pass  them. 
Yes,  there  is  Tim  bringing  her  head  round  so 
that  she  lies  broadside  to  us,  and  every  one 
of  them  has  his  oar  ready  to  pull,"  Frank 
explained. 

"Can't  you  cut  across  the  lake,  and  avoid 
them?"  asked  Tony. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  259 

"We  must  pass  them  somewhere;  and  they 
can  cut  us  off,  whatever  course  we  take." 

"Smash  them  if  they  come  too  near,"  said 
Fred. 

"No,  no,  Fred;  that  wouldn't  do.  When  I 
tell  you  to  stop  and  back  her,  do  it  promptly, 
and  we  can  easily  get  away  from  them.  Pull 
steady." 

The  boys  rowed  leisurely,  and  the  Zephyr  in 
a  short  time  reached  a  position  which  was  ex 
posed  to  the  assault  of  the  Thunderbolt. 

"Pull,"  cried  Tim  Bunker,  with  energy. 

Her  course  was  at  right  angles  with  that  of 
the  Zephyr.  Tim  had  apparently  made  a  nice 
calculation  in  regard  to  his  intended  movements. 
He  had  started  so  as  to  come  up  with  his  ri 
val  when  she  reached  the  point  in  her  course 
directly  ahead  of  him. 

The  Bunkers  pulled  with  all  their  might,  and 
the  two  boats  were  rapidly  nearing  each  other. 
Tim's  plan  had  been  well  conceived,  and  the 


260  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

collision  seemed  inevitable.  Frank  saw  that  he 
had  rightly  interpreted  the  intentions  of  the 
Bunkers,  but  he  still  continued  his  course. 

Suddenly,  as  the  Thunderbolt  was  on  the  point 
of  pouncing  upon  her  prey,  Frank,  with  startling 
energy,  gave  the  command,  - 

"  Way  enough !     Hold  water !     Stern  all  I  " 

Every  boy,  expecting  the  orders,  was  ready 
to  execute  them.  The  oars  bent  under  the  vio 
lent  exertion  they  made  to  check  the  farther 
progress  of  the  boat. 

When  the  collision  seemed  unavoidable,  Tim 
abandoned  the  helm,  and  leaped  forward  into 
the  bow  of  the  boat.  He  had  a  large  stick  in 
his  hand;  and  it  was  evidently  his  intention  to 
use  it  upon  poor  Tony,  for  his  glance  was  fixed 
upon  him  with  savage  ferocity. 

Frank's  plan  worked  well.  He  had  withheld 
the  order  to  stop  and  back  her  till  the  last 
moment,  so  that  Tim  should  have  no  time  to 
change  the  course  of  the  Thunderbolt,  and  thus 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  BIPPLETON  261 

derange  his  plan.  As  it  was,  it  was  a  very  nar 
row  escape,  and  nothing  but  the  promptness 
with  which  the  order  was  executed  averted  the 
impending  catastrophe. 

The  Thunderbolt  passed  across  the  course  of 
the  Zephyr,  not  three  feet  from  her  bow.  Tim 
saw  that  he  was  foiled ;  and  enraged  at  his  dis 
appointment,  he  aimed  a  blow  at  Tony  with 
the  long  stick,  as  his  boat  shot  past. 

Tony  was  beyond  his  reach ;  he  leaned  over 
the  gunwale  of  the  boat  in  a  vain  attempt  to 
accomplish  his  malignant  purpose.  But  in  do 
ing  so,  he  lost  his  foothold,  and  was  precipitated 
head  foremost  into  the  lake! 

He  disappeared  beneath  the  dark  surface  of 
the  deep  water,  and  his  boat  passed  over  the 
spot.  The  Zephyr,  impelled  backward  by  the 
vigorous  strokes  of  her  crew,  was  several  rods 
from  the  place  before  the  club  fully  realized  the 
nature  of  the  unfortunate  occurrence. 

The  Thunderbolt  was  much  nearer  the  place 


262  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

where  Tim  had  disappeared  than  the  Zephyr; 
but  her  crew  seemed  to  be  utterly  paralyzed  by 
the  event,  and  unable  to  render  the  slightest 
assistance.  One  of  the  Bunkers  took  the  helm, 
and  endeavored  to  rally  his  companions ;  but 
in  their  confusion  they  were  incapable  of  han 
dling  their  oars ;  some  pulled  one  way,  and  some 
another,  and  instead  of  urging  the  boat  ahead, 
they  only  turned  it  round  in  a  circle. 

"  Way  enough !  "  shouted  Frank,  as  soon  as 
he  discovered  the  accident.  "  Give  way !  Tim 
Bunker  has  fallen  overboard !  " 

The  crew,  though  affected  to  some  extent  as 
the  Bunkers  were,  used  their  oars  with  skill 
and  energy.  The  presence  of  mind  which  Frank 
displayed  inspired  them  with  courage,  and  the 
Zephyr  darted  forward  towards  the  spot  where 
Tim  had  gone  down. 

"  There  he  is  ahead !  "  exclaimed  Frank, 
with  frantic  earnestness;  "pull  with  all  your 
might !  " 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          263 

"  Help !  Save  me  !  "  cried  Tim,  as  he  rose 
to  the  surface. 

The  boats  were  both  several  rods  distant  from* 
him.  He  did  not  swim,  but  seemed  to  struggle 
with  all  his  strength,  apparently  with  a  spas 
modic  effort,  as  though  he  had  entirely  lost  his 
self-control. 

"Tony,  stand  by  with  your  boat-hook," 
shouted  Frank. 

But  Tim  struggled  only  for  an  instant  on  the 
surface,  and  then  went  down  again. 

"  Way  enough !  "  said  Frank,  as  the  Zephyr 
approached  the  spot.  "  Hold  water  !  Oars !  " 

The  boat,  under  the  skilful  management  of 
the  resolute  young  coxswain,  lost  her  headway, 
and  lay  motionless  on  the  water  near  the  spot 
where  Tim  had  last  appeared. 

"Do  you  see  him,  Tony?" 

"No." 

"Fred,  forward  with  your  boat-hook,"  con 
tinued  Frank. 


264  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

Fred  took  the  boat-hook,  and  went  forward  to 
the  bow  of  the  Zephyr. 

"  There  he  is !  "  exclaimed  Tony,  as  he  caught 
a  sight  of  the  drowning  boy  beneath  the  surface. 

Fred  dropped  his  boat-hook  into  the  water 
intending  to  fasten  it  into  Tim's  clothes. 

"  He  sinks  again !  "  cried  Tony,  throwing  off 
his  jacket  and  shoes. 

Before  any  of  the  crew  could  fully  under 
stand  his  purpose,  so  quick  were  his  movements, 
he  dived  from  the  bow  of  the  boat  deep  down 
into  the  water. 

The  boys  held  their  breath  in  the  intensity 
of  their  feelings.  One  or  two  of  them  had 
dropped  their  oars,  and  were  leaving  their 
places. 

"Keep  your  places,  and  hold  on  to  your 
oars  !  "  said  Frank  sternly.  "  Ned  Graham,  take 
the  other  boat-hook." 

"Back  her  a  little- — one  stroke,"  said  Fred 
Harper.  "We  are  passing  over  the  spot." 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON          265 

Frank  ordered  the  boat  back,  as  desired. 

"  Here  they  rise  I  Tony  has  him !  "  exclaimed 
Fred,  as  he  hooked  into  Tim's  clothes.  "Grasp 
the  other  boat-hook,  Tony." 

Tim  was  drawn  into  the  boat,  apparently 
dead. 

Tony  was  so  exhausted  that  he  could  not 
speak,  and  sank  into  the  bottom  of  the  boat. 

"  Give  way !  "  said  Frank,  heading  the  Zephyr 
towards  Ripple  ton. 

The  sad  event  had  been  observed  from  the 
shore,  and  before  the  arrival  of  the  club  boat 
quite  a  number  of  persons  had  collected. 
Scarcely  a  minute  elapsed  before  the  Zephyr 
touched  the  bank,  and  the  lifeless  body  of  Tim 
Bunker  was  taken  out,  and  conveyed  to  the 
nearest  house. 

"How  do  you  feel,  Tony?"  asked  Frank, 
lifting  the  noble  little  fellow  from  his  position. 

"  Badly,  Frank ;  I  want  to  go  home,"  replied 
he  faintly. 


266  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

Among  other  persons  who  had  gathered  on 
the  shore  of  the  lake  was  one  of  the  physicians 
of  Rippleton.  He  followed  the  party  that  con 
veyed  Tim  into  the  house,  and  applied  him 
self  vigorously  to  the  means  of  restoring  him. 
It  was  a  long  time  before  there  were  any  signs 
of  life,  and  the  people  in  the  meantime  be 
lieved  him  dead. 

While  Dr.  Allen  was  at  work  over  Tim, 
Fred  Harper  came  to  request  his  assistance  for 
Tony.  Fortunately  Dr.  Davis,  another  physi 
cian,  arrived  at  this  moment,  and  accompanied 
him  to  the  boat. 

"What   ails   him,  Dr.  Davis?"  asked   Frank. 

"Exhaustion  and  excitement  have  overcome 
him." 

"  Is  it  anything  serious  ?  " 

"I  think  not.  We  must  get  his  wet  clothes 
off,  and  put  him  to  bed." 

"Will  you  go  home  with  him?  We  will  row 
you  up  and  back  again." 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  267 

The  physician  was  very  willing  to  go,  and 
the  boat  put  off.  The  club  pulled  with  all 
their  strength,  and  the  distance  to  Tony's 
house  was  accomplished  in  a  very  few  moments. 
Mrs.  Weston  was  greatly  alarmed  when  Tony 
was  brought  in,  but  the  doctor  assured  her  it 
was  nothing  serious.  He  was  put  to  bed,  the 
doctor  prescribed  for  him,  and  when  the  boys 
were  ready  to  leave,  they  had  the  satisfaction 
of  knowing  the  patient  was  much  better. 

When  they  reached  Rippleton,  they  found 
that  Tim  had  been  restored,  and  conveyed  to 
his  father's  house.  Captain  Sedley  came  in  the 
last  train,  and  the  boys  rowed  him  home. 


268  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

TIM   BUNKER 

CAPTAIN  SEDLEY  was  much  disturbed  by  the 
painful  event  which  had  .  occurred ;  and  though 
the  club  were  entirely  free  from  blame,  he  could 
not  but  question  the  expediency  of  continuing 
the  organization.  The  malicious  spirit  of  Tim 
Bunker  had  been  the  cause  of  his  misfortune. 
People  thought  he  was  lucky  to  escape  with 
his  life,  and  that  it  would  be  a  lesson  he  would 
remember  a  great  many  years. 
.  Tony's  praises  were  upon  everybody's  lips. 
He  had  saved  the  life  of  his  enemy,  had  plunged 
in  at  the  risk  of  his  own,  to  rescue  one  who 
had  been  intent  upon  his  injury.  It  was  a  noble 
and  a  Christian  deed,  so  the  good  men  and 
women  said,  while  others  declared,  if  they  had 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  269 

been  in  Tony's  place,  they  would  have  let  him 
drown. 

The  noble  deed  was  appreciated;  and  the  day 
after  the  event,  a  subscription  paper  was  opened 
at  the  Rippleton  Bank  for  Tony's  benefit.  Before 
night  over  a  hundred  dollars  wras  collected,  which 
the  cashier  presented  to  him,  as  he  lay  upon  his 
bed,  sick  from  the  effects  of  his  exertions. 

The  crew  of  the  boat  club  were  very  highly 
commended  for  their  efficient  labors  on  the  occa 
sion.  If  Frank  had  displayed  less  courage  and 
address,  or  the  discipline  of  the  club  had  been 
less  perfect,  Tim  must  certainly  have  been 
drowned.  This  fact  was  rendered  the  more 
apparent  by  the  contrast  between  the  conduct 
of  the  crew  of  the  Zephyr  and  that  of  the 
Thunderbolt.  With  all  their  exertion,  on  ac 
count  of  their  want  of  discipline,  the  latter  had 
been  unable  even  to  reach  the  spot  until  the 
former  had  received  Tim  on  board. 

All   the  sympathies   of   the   people  were  with 


270  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

the  boat  club.  Nobody  pitied  Tim ;  for  he  was  a 
quarrelsome,  disagreeable  boy,  and  had  nearly  lost 
his  life  in  his  attempt  to  gratify  his  malicious 
spite  against  his  noble  and  generous  deliverer. 

In  a  few  days  Tony,  who  had  suffered  more 
from  the  shock  than  Tim,  was  able  to  go  out 
again.  He  was  everywhere  received  with  en 
thusiasm;  and  the  first  time  the  Zephyr  visited 
Rippleton  after  the  accident,  people  seemed  de 
termined  to  make  a  little  lion  of  him. 

Captain  Sedley's  attention  was  now  directed 
to  the  trial  of  Tony,  which  would  take  place  in 
a  few  days,  and  he  was  exceedingly  desirous 
of  ascertaining  how  Tim  was  affected  towards 
him  since  the  rescue.  But  the  Thunderbolt  had 
been  laid  up  at  Joe  Braman's  landing,  and  the 
Bunkers  appeared  to  be  dispersed  and  separated 
since  the  accident.  Captain  Sedley  did  not  find 
their  leader  for  several  days,  but  at  last  he 
made  a  visit  to  his  father's  house  before  Tim 
got  up. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  271 

The  young  ruffian  was  very  desirous  of  avoid 
ing  him;  and  when  his  mother  went  up-stairs 
and  told  him  who  had  come,  he  put  on  his 
clothes,  and  slipped  out  of  the  house  by  the 
back  door.  Captain  Sedley  happened  to  see  him, 
however,  as  he  was  skulking  off  through  the 
garden. 

"Tim,"  said  he,  running  after  him. 

The  leader  of  the  Bunkers  did  not  dare  to 
run  away  from  such  an  influential  person  as 
Captain  Sedley;  and,  turning,  he  doggedly  ap 
proached  him. 

"  Tim,  I  want  to  see  you  about  the  trial, 
which,  you  know,  takes  place  in  a  few  days." 

"I  don't  know  nothin'  about  it." 

"You  don't?"  said  Captain  Sedley. 

"  No,  I  don't ;  "  and  Tim,  fixing  his  eyes  upon 
the  ground,  amused  himself  by  kicking  a  hole 
in  the  soil  with  his  foot. 

"Don't  you  know  anything  about  the  wallet, 
or  the  money  that  was  in  it?" 


272  THE  BOAT  CLUE;    OR, 

"No,  I  don't." 

"Just  think  a  moment." 

"Don't  want  to  think;  I  don't  know  nothin* 
about  it,"  replied  Tim  sulkily. 

"Tony  is  accused  of  the  crime,  and  you  know 
what  a  terrible  thing  it  would  be  to  have  an 
innocent  person  suffer." 

"I  s'pose  it  would." 

"You  know  Tony  saved  your  life." 

"So  I  needn't  be  evidence  against  him," 
growled  Tim. 

Captain  Sedley  was  astonished  at  his  want  of 
even  the  commonest  feeling  of  gratitude. 

"If  that  had  been  his  motive,  he  would  have 
let  you  drown." 

"I  wonder  he  didn't" 

"Tim,  you  are  utterly  hardened  in  iniquity." 

"No,  I  ain't." 

"You  have  no  gratitude  towards  your  deliv 
erer." 

"  Yes,  I  have ;  I  am  much  obliged  to  him  for 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  273 

what  he  done,  and  when  I  see  him,  I'll  tell  him 
so." 

"You  do  not  seem  in  the  least  obliged  to 
him." 

"  I  am ;  and  besides,  the  folks  gave  him  over  a 
hundred  dollars  for  what  he  done.  I  should  like 
to  jump  iii  after  a  dozen  on  the  same  terms." 

"  You  have  nothing  to  say  about  the  trial  then, 
have  you,  Tim?" 

"Don't  know  nothin'  about  it.  All  I  can 
say  is,  I  saw  him  stickin'  somethin'  into  his 
pocket." 

"You  bought  the  boat  in  which  you  have 
been  sailing  on  the  lake." 

"No,  I  didn't;  it  is  Joe  Braman's,"  replied 
Tim  stoutly. 

"  Didn't  you  tell  the  boys  that  you  gave  him 
ten  dollars  for  it?" 

"No,  I  didn't." 

"And  that  you  paid  five  dollars  for  having  it 
fitted  up?" 


274  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"I  was  only  joking  —  tryin'  to  sell  'em,"  an« 
swered  Tim,  attempting  to  smile  and  look  funny. 

"That  was  it,  was  it?" 

"That's  all." 

"And  you   have   not  paid   Joe    Braman   any 
money?" 
-     "Not  a  cent." 

"Tim,"  said  Captain  Sedley  sternly,  "people 
think  that  you  stole  the  wallet." 

"Me!     I  hope  to  die  if  I  did!" 

"That  you  took  some  of  the  money  out,  and 
then  put  the  wallet  into  Tony's  pocket,  so  as  to 
fasten  the  guilt  on  him." 

"  No  such  thing  !  " 

"Just  consider,  Tim.  If  you  did,  you  had 
better  confess  it." 

"I  didn't." 

"Only  think  that  Tony  saved  your  life." 

"I've  nothin'  against  him." 

"But  you  ought  to  be  for  him.  If  you  have 
injured  him  in  this  matter,  people  will  think  a 


TEE  BUNKERS.  OF  RIPPLETON  275 

great  deal  better  of  you,  if  you  confess  it,  and 
ask  his  forgiveness,  whatever  the  consequences 
may  be  to  yourself." 

"I  hain't  hurt  him." 

"If  you  are  the  guilty  one,  it  will  certainly 
come  out  at  the  trial." 

"I  ain't;  I  don't  know  nothin'  about  the 
wallet.  I'm  sure  I  didn't  take  it  —  I  hope  to 
die  if  I  did  ! " 

"  Very  well,  Tim ;  if  you  have  made  up  your 
mind  not  to  confess  it,  I  have  nothing  more  to 
say." 

"I  ain't  a  going  to  confess  it  when  I  didn't 
do  it,"  said  Tim  stoutly. 

"  But  you  did  do  it,  Tim." 

"No,  I  didn't  nuther." 

"I  am  surprised  at  your  hardihood.  Tony 
saved  your  life  at  the  peril  of  his  own,  and  yet 
you  are  willing  to  see  him  convicted  of  a  crime 
which  you  committed  yourself." 

"Who  says   I  did?"   said  Tim,  not   a  little 


276  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

confused  by  the  directness  with  which  Captain 
Sedley  spoke  to  him. 

"  I  say  it,  Tim.  Once  more,  will  you  free 
Tony  from  the  charge  by  telling  the  truth?" 

"I  have  told  the  truth." 

"  No,  you  haven't,  Tim.  Will  you  confess 
the  crime,  and  save  Tony  ?  " 

"No,  I  won't;   I  didn't  do  it." 

"Very  well,"  replied  Captain  Sedley,  as  he 
left  the  young  reprobate. 

Tim  did  not  know  what  to  make  of  it.  Why 
Captain  Sedley  should  lay  it  to  him,  he  could 
not  tell,  unless  it  was  on  account  of  what  he 
had  said  to  Fred  Harper  about  buying  the  Thun 
derbolt.  He  was  uneasy,  and  spent  the  fore 
noon  in  wandering  about  the  woods  back  of  his 
father's  house.  He  felt  as  though  something 
was  going  to  happen,  though  he  could  not  tell 
precisely  what. 

He  had  eaten  no  breakfast,  and  at  noon  he 
was  driven  home  by  hunger.  But  he  had 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  277 

scarcely  seated  himself  at  the  dinner-table  be 
fore  a  knock  was  heard  at  the  door. 

"Go  to  the  door,  Tim,"  said  his  father. 

"I  don't  want  to  go,"  answered  Tim,  with 
a  whine. 

A  kind  of  dread  had  taken  possession  of  him 
since  his  interview  with  Captain  Sedley  in  the 
morning,  and  every  noise  he  heard  seemed  to 
foretell  that  something  was  about  to  occur. 

"  Go,  this  minute !  "  said  his  father  sternly. 

"  Don't  want  to." 

"But  you  shall." 

Tim,  finding  there  was  no  escape,  rose,  and 
went  to  the  door.  To  his  consternation  he  be 
held  Mr.  Headley,  the  constable!  He  felt  as 
though  he  should  drop  through  the  floor.  His 
heart  beat  so  violently  that  he  could  hardly 
stand  up. 

"I  want  you,  Tim,"  said  Mr.  Headley, 

"Me!  "  gasped  Tim. 

"Get  your  cap,  and  come  along." 


278  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

"What  for?" 

"I'll  tell  you  when  you  get  to  the  jail." 

Tim  drew  a  long  breath,  and  went  back  for 
his  cap. 

"Who  is  it,  Tim?"  asked  his  father. 

But  Tim  made  no  reply,  and  instead  of  re 
turning  to  the  front  door,  he  took  his  cap  and 
sneaked  out  through  the  back  room.  The  woods 
were  close  by,  and  the  hope  of  escaping  in 
spired  him  with  new  courage.  Throwing  open 
the  back  door,  he  rushed  out. 

"  So,  so !  my  fine  fellow !  "  exclaimed  the 
constable,  who  stood  before  the  door,  and  into 
whose  arms  he  had  thrown  himself  as  he  leaped 
down  the  doorsteps.  "  This  is  your  plan,  is  it  ? 
We'll  give  you  the  ruffles,  then." 

So  saying,  Mr.  Headley  took  a  pair  of  hand 
cuffs  from  his  pocket,  and  fastened  them  upon 
Tim's  wrists. 

"  I  didn't  steal  the  wallet,"  cried  Tim  lustily, 
as  he  struggled  to  get  away. 


YOU  MUST  COME  WITH  ME.      P.   279. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  279 

"You  must  come  with  me,"  replied  the  con 
stable,  holding  him  fast. 

Tim's  father  and  mother  came  to  the  door, 
as  Mr.  Headley  marched  him  off.  They  asked 
the  officer  what  he  was  doing  with  their  son. 
Without  stopping  to  give  any  details,  he  told 
them  the  boy  was  wanted  for  stealing  Farmer 
Whipple's  wallet. 


280  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 


CHAPTER   XIX 

THE  TKIAL  OF  TONY 

JOE  B RAMAN  was  arrested  on  the  same  day, 
and  committed  to  the  Ripple  ton  jail.  It  was 
understood  that  suspicions  were  fastened  upon 
him,  though  the  precise  nature  of  the  testimony 
against  him  had  not  yet  been  made  public. 
His  examination,  as  well  as  that  of  Tim 
Bunker,  was  postponed  until  after  the  trial  of 
Tony,  which  had  been  appointed,  in  considera 
tion  of  the  circumstances,  for  the  following  day. 

Captain  Sedley  had  been  very  active  in 
obtaining  evidence,  but  he  was  so  cautious  that 
the  people  of  Rippleton  did  not  ascertain  what 
he  was  doing. 

The  morning  of  the  trial  came.  The  mem 
bers  of  the  boat  club  were  all  anxious  to  attend ; 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  281 

and  Captain  Sedley  had  consented  that  they 
should  go  to  the  village  in  the  Zephyr,  taking 
Uncle  Ben  with  them  as  boat-keeper. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  club  had  all  assembled  in 
the  boat-house,  and  had  put  on  their  uniform. 

"Keep  your  spirits  up,  Tony,"  said  Fred. 
"It  will  all  come  out  right." 

"I  hope  so,"  replied  Tony  rather  sadly  <>  "I 
am  innocent,  and  all  I  ask  is  justice." 

"My  father  is  very  sure  you  will  be  cleared," 
added  Frank;  "but  whether  you  are  or  not,  we 
are  all  very  certain  of  your  innocence." 

"  Thank  you ;  you  have  been  very  kind  to  me 
and  my  mother,"  answered  Tony,  the  tears  gath- 
ing  in  his  eyes  as  he  spoke.  "I  heard  last 
evening  what  you  did  the  night  before  the 
Fourth  of  July." 

"Never  mind  that,  Tony;  we  all  like  you. 
You  are  a  noble  fellow ;  "  and  Frank  grasped 
the  hand  of  his  friend. 

"I  don't  know  as  I  ought  to  wear  this  uni 


282  TEE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

form  to-day,"  continued  Tony,  trying  to  smile 
through  his  tears. 

"Why  not,  Tony?" 

44 1  don't  want  to  disgrace  the  club." 

"  Disgrace  us,  Tony !  I  am  sure  there  is  not 
a  fellow  in  the  club  that  does  not  feel  honored 
by  having  you  belong." 

"  Think  of  your  uniform  on  the  back  of  a 
felon.  If  found  guilty,  I  shall  be  sent  to  the 
House  of  Correction." 

"  But  you  won't  be,  Tony.  Tim  and  Joe 
Braman  have  been  arrested,  and  you  may  be 
sure  there  has  been  some  evidence  found  to 
fasten  it  upon  them." 

"  Perhaps  so ;  at  least,  I  am  innocent,  and  I 
shall  be  just  as  innocent  in  the  House  of  Cor 
rection  as  in  the  open  air.  But  I  don't  want 
to  disgrace  the  club." 

44 1  talked  with  father  about  the  uniform  last 
night.  He  thought  we  had  better  not  wear  it, 
because  it  would  look  so  odd  in  the  court 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  283 

house;  but  I  told  him  we  wanted  to  wear  it, 
so  as  to  show  that  you  were  one  of  us." 

"You  are  very  kind,  Frank,"  replied  Tony, 
grasping  his  hand. 

"Time  you   were  off,  boys,"  said  Uncle  Ben. 

"Take  your  places,"  continued  Frank. 

The  members  of  the  club  seemed  to  feel  that 
they  were  not  going  on  a  pleasure  excursion, 
and  there  was  hardly  a  smile  to  be  seen  on 
their  faces.  They  were  quiet,  and  very  orderly, 
and  moved  slowly  and  with  a  good  deal  of 
dignity  into  the  boat. 

The  Zephyr  backed  out  of  her  berth,  and  the 
oars  fell  into  the  water. 

"Give  way,"  said  Frank,  as  he  laid  the 
course  of  the  boat  towards  Rippleton.  "We 
will  not  hoist  our  flags  going  down." 

The  crew  pulled  steadity,  and  not  a  word  was 
spoken  on  the  way.  Every  member  was  think 
ing  of  poor  Tony,  and  every  one  was  hoping 
and  believing  he  would  be  acquitted. 


284  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

On  their  arrival  at  Rippleton,  Frank  formed 
them  in  procession,  two  by  two,  and  marched 
up  to  the  court-house.  More  than  once,  as  they 
passed  through  the  streets,  the  people,  recogniz 
ing  Tony,  lustily  cheered  him.  Since  the  rescue 
of  Tim  Bunker,  he  had  been  a  hero  in  the  vil 
lage.  His  misfortunes,  added  to  his  noble,  gen 
erous  character,  excited  all  the  sympathies  of  the 
people. 

When  they  reached  the  court-house,  the  sheriff, 
as  a  special  mark  of  consideration,  conducted 
them  to  seats  where  they  could  see  and  hear  all 
that  was  done  and  said. 

Squire  Benson  was  at  the  table,  and  the  jury 
were  in  their  seats,  but  the  court  had  not  yet 
come  in.  Captain  Sedley  and  Mrs.  Weston  had 
chairs  by  the  side  of  Tony's  counsel,  and  they 
were  engaged  in  an  earnest  conversation  with 
him. 

"Where  shall  I  stay?"  asked  Tony  of  the 
sheriff. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  285 

"  I  suppose  you  must  take  your  place  in  the 
dock/'  replied  the  official. 

"I  am  ready." 

There  was  a  sudden  silence  in  the  room,  as 
the  sheriff  conducted  the  little  prisoner  to  the 
box  appropriated  to  criminals.  The  audience 
felt  deeply  for  him,  and  his  poor  mother  burst 
into  tears. 

The  judge  took  his  seat  on  the  bench,  and 
the  crier  opened  the  court.  The  indictment  was 
read;  and  Tony,  in  a  firm,  and  even  cheerful 
tone,  pleaded  "not  guilty." 

The  county  attorney  made  his  opening  ad 
dress,  and  the  witnesses  for  the  prosecution 
were  sworn.  These  consisted  of  Farmer  Whip- 
pie,  Mr.  Headley,  Charles  Hardy,  Frank  Sedley, 
and  Tim  Bunker,  the  latter  of  whom  was 
brought  into  court  by  a  constable. 

The  testimony  was  substantially  the  same  as 
at  the  examination.  It  was  proved  that  Tony 
was  in  the  .woodhouse,  had  seen  the  wallet,  and 


286  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

left  his  companions  to  find  Farmer  Whipple ; 
that  he  had  been  seen  to  put  something  into 
his  pocket,  and  finally  that  the  lost  wallet,  with 
a  portion  of  the  money,  had  been  found  in  his 
pocket. 

It  was  a  clear  case,  and  when  the  evidence 
was  concluded  Mrs.  Weston  sobbed  bitterly. 

"Be  comforted,  madam,  your  son  shall  be 
proved  innocent  in  a  few  moments,"  said  Squire 
Benson. 

The  cross  examination  of  Tim  Bunker  was 
very  long  and  very  severe ;  and  though  he  still 
adhered  to  the  story  he  had  told  at  the  exam 
ination,  he  was  confused,  stammered  a  great 
deal,  and  tried  to  be  saucy  to  the  lawyer. 
His  statements  were  so  contradictory  at  times, 
that  a  general  disposition  to  laugh  pervaded  the 
minds  of  the  audience.  At  these  times,  when 
he  so  grossly  crossed  himself,  Squire  Benson 
looked  significantly  at  the  jury,  as  though  to  in 
vite  their  special  attention  to  the  discrepancies. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  287 

Tony's  counsel  then  opened  the  case  for  the 
defence.  His  address  was  very  short,  but  very 
pointed  and  forcible. 

The  first  witness  was  Mr.  Doolittle,  the  store 
keeper,  who  testified  to  the  facts  concerning 
the  twenty  dollar  bill. 

"Is  that  the  bill  you  marked?"  asked  the 
lawyer,  handing  him  a  bank-note. 

"  It  is,"  replied  the  witness,  after  examining  it. 

"You  are  willing  to  swear  that  is  the  bill?" 

"I  am." 

"Please  state  to  the  court  and  jury  the  means 
by  which  you  identify  it." 

The  witness  exhibited  his  shop-card  upon  the 
back  of  it,  and  pointed  out  several  other  peculi 
arities  which  he  had  observed  while  stamping  it. 

"  Mr.  Stevens,"  said  the  lawyer.  "  That  will 
do,  Mr.  Doolittle." 

The  person  called  took  the  stand.  -  He  was  a 
stranger  in  Rippleton,  and  the  audience  won 
dered  what  he  could  possibly  know  about  it. 


288  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  Your  business,  Mr.  Stevens  ?  "  continued  the 
lawyer,  scratching  furiously  with  his  pen. 

"I  keep  a  hardware  store  in  Boston." 

"Did  you  ever  see  this  bill?"  and  Squire 
Benson  handed  him  the  bank-note. 

"I  have." 

"  State,  if  you  please,  what  you  know  about 
it." 

"It  was  given  to  me  in  payment  for  a  fowl 
ing-piece." 

"When?" 

The  witness  gave  the  date. 

"  Can  you  swear  to  the  bill  ?  " 

"I  can;  I  wrote  my  name  and  the  day  of 
the  month  on  it  at  the  time;  here  they  are." 

"Indeed!  how  happened  you  to  do  that?" 

"I  did  it  at  the  request  of  the  gentleman 
who  sits  by  your  side ; "  and  the  witness  pointed 
to  Captain  Sedley. 

"  Who  was  the  person  that  gave  you  the 
bill?" 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  289 

"I  do  not  know  his  name." 

"Could  you  identify  him?" 

"I  could." 

Squire  Benson  requested  the  court  to  have 
Joe  Braman  summoned  as  a  witness  in  the 
case;  and  after  a  short  delay,  he  was  brought 
in  by  an  officer. 

"Was  that  the  person?" 

"It  was." 

"You  are  sure?" 

"  I  noticed  the  scar  on  his  cheek,"  replied 
the  witness,  "and  I  should  not  be  likely  to 
mistake  such  a  person  as  that  for  another." 

The  audience  smiled  at  this  sally.  Joe  Bra- 
man  was  in  truth  an  oddity  in  his  personal  ap 
pearance,  and  the  remark  of  the  witness  seemed 
to  have  a  peculiar  force. 

"  That  is  all,  Mr.  Stevens ;  the  witness  is 
yours,  Mr.  Prescott,"  said  Squire  Benson,  turn« 
ing  to  the  county  attorney. 

But  Mr.  Prescott  asked  him  no  questions. 


290  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"Joseph  Braman,  take  the  stand,"  continued 
Tony's  lawyer. 

Joe  seemed  bewildered  by  the  circumstances 
that  surrounded  him,  and  gazed  vacantly  at  the 
judge  and  jury.  He  was  a  dull,  stupid  fellow, 
and  did  not  readily  comprehend  his  position. 

He  was  sworn;  and  after  the  judge  had  re 
minded  him  that  he  need  not  criminate  himself, 
Squire  Benson  proceeded  with  the  examination. 

"You  bought  a  gun  of  the  last  witness,  did 
you  not?"  asked  he. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Joe,  scarcely  knowing 
whether  he  was  on  trial  himself  or  not. 

"You  gave  him  a  twenty  dollar  bill,  did  you 
not?" 

"  You  are  suggesting  his  answers,"  interposed 
the  county  attorney. 

"What  did  you  give  him  in  payment?" 

"I  gin  him  a  twenty  dollar  bill,"  replied  Joe 
promptly. 

"This  was  the  biU,  wasn't  it?" 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  291 

"I  pray  your  honor's  judgment,"  said  the 
county  attorney  with  a  smile.  "  My  learned 
brother  answers  the  question,  and  then  puts  it." 

"  Put  the  question  fairly,  Mr.  Benson,"  added 
the  judge. 

"Was  this  the  bill?"  said  the  lawyer,  hand 
ing  the  witness  the  twenty  dollar  note. 

"I  rather  guess  it  was." 

"  You  guess  !  Don't  you  know  ?  "  said  Mr. 
Benson,  with  severity  in  his  tone  and  manner. 

"Yes,  sir,  it  was,"  answered  Joe,  startled  by 
the  questioner's  sharp  words. 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"I  see'd  this  'ere  mark  on't,"  replied  the  wit 
ness,  pointing  to  Mr.  Doolittle's  shop-card. 

"Now,  Mr.  Braman,"  continued  Squire  Ben 
son,  suddenly  softening  his  tone,  and  assuming 
a  pleasant  smile,  "  Where  did  you  get  this  bill  ?  " 

"  Tim  Bunker  gin  it  to  me." 

The  reply  of  Joe  produced  a  great  sensation 
in  the  court-room. 


292  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OK, 

"  I  told  you  so !  "  whispered  Charles  Hardy 
to  Frank. 

There  was  a  smile  of  triumph  on  the  face  of 
Tony,  and  all  eyes  were  turned  to  him. 

"  It's  a  lie !  "  groaned  Tim,  his  face  as  white 
as  a  sheet. 

"  Did  he  tell  you  where  he  got  it  ?  "  continued 
Mr.  Benson,  in 'an  apparently  indifferent  tone. 

"  You  need  not  criminate  yourself,"  interposed 
the  judge. 

"He  told  me  all  about  it,"  replied  Joe,  sud 
denly  brushing  up  his  wits. 

"You  needn't  wink  at  me,  Tim;  I'm  goin' 
to  blow  the  whole  thing,"  continued  he,  shaking 
his  head  at  the  crestfallen  Bunker.  "You  was 
fool  enough  to  tell  on't  yourself." 

"  He  told  you  that  he  stole  it  ?  "  asked  Squire 
Benson. 

"  No ;  he  said  he  found  it ; "  and  the  witness 
proceeded  to  relate  all  the  particulars  of  the 
affair. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  293 

It  appeared  from  his  story  that  Tim  had  taken 
the  wallet,  abstracted  thirty  dollars  of  the  money, 
and  then,  when  school  was  about  to  be  dismissed, 
had  thrust  the  wallet  into  the  prisoner's  pocket. 
,  Tony  had  not  discovered  the  wallet.  He  had 
eaten  his  dinner  and  gone  immediately  into  the 
garden,  where  he  had  pulled  off  his  coat,  and 
commenced  picking  the  currants.  Tim's  plan 
had  worked  better  than  he  expected  it  would; 
for  he  supposed  that  Tony  would  find  it  in  his 
pocket,  and  be  accused  of  abstracting  the  thirty 
dollars. 

The  jury  gave  in  their  verdict  of  not  guilty, 
without  leaving  their  seats.  As  they  did  so,  a 
gentleman,  with  a  very  long  beard  and  mustache, 
rose,  and  clapped  his  hands  with  great  violence. 
His  example  was  followed  by  a  large  portion  of 
the  audience,  and  the  sheriff  had  much  trouble 
in  restoring  order. 


294  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE  STRANGER 

THE  officer  immediately  released  the  prisoner 
from  his  confinement,  and  Tony  sprang  into  the 
waiting  arms  of  his  mother. 

"  Bless  you,  my  boy !  "  she  exclaimed,  as  the 
tears  rolled  down  her  cheeks.  "I  knew  you 
were  innocent !  " 

"My  carriage  waits  for  you,  Mrs.  Weston," 
said  Captain  Sedley,  after  he  had  cordially 
shaken  the  hand  of  Squire  Benson. 

The  widow  thanked  the  lawyer  for  his  good 
service,  and  the  party  withdrew  from  the  court 
room.  In  the  street,  amid  the  cheers  of  the 
multitude,  the  boat  club  formed  their  column, 
and  marched  down  to  the  lake. 

When   they  reached   the   Zephyr,  they  found 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON          295 

her  in  charge  of  one  of  the  men  who  worked 
on  the  farm  of  Captain  Sedley. 

"Where  is  Uncle  Ben?"  asked  Frank. 

"Gone  home,"  replied  the  man. 

"What  for?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"Call  the  numbers,  Tony,"  said  Frank. 

Just  as  the  oars  were  dipping,  they  were 
hailed  from  the  shore. 

"Boat  ahoy,"  said  a  stranger  on  the  bank. 

Frank  looked,  and  discovered  the  gentleman 
who  had  begun  the  applause  in  the  court-room. 
He  was  well  dressed,  wore  a  massive  gold  chain, 
and  appeared  to  be  in  affluent  circumstances,  if 
one  might  judge  from  appearances.  His  face 
—  that  portion  of  it  which  was  not  covered  by 
his  long  black  beard  —  was  very  dark,  and  ap 
parently  he  had  just  returned  from  a  tropical 
climate. 

The  coxswain  backed  the  boat  to  the  shore. 

"Can   you   tell   me   how   I   shall   get  to  the 


296  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

house  of  John  Weston,  up  the  lake  ?  "  inquired 
the  stranger. 

"  John  Weston  is  not  living,"   replied  Frank. 

"  Not  living !  "  replied  the  stranger,  with  a 
sudden  start.  "Is  Mrs.  Weston  living?" 

"  She  is." 

"She  is  my  mother,"  added  Tony. 

"  We  are  going  up  there  now ;  and  if  you 
choose  we  will  row  you  up,"  added  the  cox 
swain. 

"Thank  you,"  replied  the  stranger,  as  he 
seated  himself  by  Frank's  side. 

Tony  gazed  at  him  with  intense  earnestness. 
The  face  looked  natural  to  him,  but  he  could 
not  think  where  he  had  seen  it  before. 

"  Give  way,"  said  Frank. 

"You  have  a  beautiful  boat,"  added  the 
stranger. 

"She  is  a  very  fine  boat.  I  saw  you  at  the 
trial,  did  I  not?"  asked  Frank,  looking  with 
interest  at  his  companion. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  297 

"I  was  there;  it  ended  very  happily." 

"Just  as  we  knew  it  would  end,"  added 
Charles  Hardy. 

"It  was  a  villanous  conspiracy;  and  I  should 
like  the  pleasure  of  thrashing  that  Tim  Bun 
ker,"  continued  the  stranger,  with  a  great  deal 
of  feeling. 

"You  seemed  to  be  much  interested  in  the 
trial." 

"More  deeply  than  any  other  could  be." 

"Except  his  mother,"  said  Frank. 

"You  are  right,  except  his  mother;"  and  the 
gentleman  looked  very  sad,  and  wiped  a  tear 
from  his  eye. 

The  boat  was  now  approaching  the  vicinity 
of  Centre  Island. 

"This  is  Captain  Sedley's  place,"  said  the 
stranger. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"There  comes  the  Sylph,  Frank,"  shouted 
Fred  Harper. 


298  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  Uncle  Ben  is  up  to  something,  I  suspect." 

"What  do  you  suppose  it  is?" 

Before  Frank  could  venture  an  opinion,  a 
mass  of  smoke  rose  from  the  bows  of  the 
Sylph,  and  the  mimic  roar  of  a  little  cannon 
was  heard. 

"  Hurrah !  Tony,  he  is  firing  a  salute  in 
honor  of  the  verdict,"  cried  Charles. 

"Three  cheers  for  Tony  Weston,"  shouted 
Frank.  «  One !  " 

"Hurrah!" 

"Two!" 

"Hurrah!" 

"Three!" 

"Hurrah!" 

The  stranger  joined  lustily  in  the  cheers ;  and 
when  they  had  finished,  Uncle  Ben  fired  again. 
When  the  Zephyr  came  alongside  the  Sylph, 
the  veteran  congratulated  the  little  hero  of  the 
day  on  his  escape  from  the  snares  of  his  foes. 

"You  are   a  good  boy,  and  I  wish  I  had  a 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  299 

bigger  gun.  You  desarve  a  salute  from  a  forty- 
two  pounder,"  said  Uncle  Ben,  as  he  rammed 
down  the  charge  for  another  gun. 

"Thank  you,  Uncle  Ben,  tfyat  gun  is  big 
enough  for  so  small  a  boy  as  I  am." 

The  Zephyr  continued  on  her  course  to  the 
widow  Weston's,  followed  by  the  Sylph,  the  old 
sailor  saluting  all  the  way. 

The  party  landed,  and  marched  up  to  the 
house,  followed  by  the  stranger.  Tony  em 
braced  his  sister  and  his  little  brother,  and  with 
tears  of  joy  told  them  that  he  was  acquitted. 
Mrs.  Weston  and  Captain  Sedley  had  not  yet 
arrived. 

In  half  an  hour  they  came.  Mrs.  Weston  wel 
comed  her  guests,  and  among  them  the  stranger. 

"I  don't  know  you,  sir,  but  you  are  welcome 
to  my  poor  cottage,"  said  she,  with  a  courtesy. 

"  Thank  you,  ma'am.  I  have  just  come  from 
California.  I  believe  you  had  a  son  who  went 
out  there." 


300  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OJS, 

"  I  did.  Poor  George  I  I  suppose  he  is 
dead,"  answered  the  widow,  wiping  a  tear  from 
her  eye. 

"I  come  to  tell  you  about  him,  ma'am." 

"Then  he  is  dead!  " 

"No;  he  is  alive  and  well." 

"  Heaven  bless  you  for  the  news !  "  ejaculated 
the  poor  woman. 

It  was  indeed  a  day  of  gladness  to  her. ' 

"He  is  coming  home  soon." 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  it.     Where  has  he  been?" 

"He  has  been  at  the  mines." 

"I  haven't  heard  a  word  from  him  since  he 
first  reached  San  Francisco." 

"  He  has  written  several  times ;  but  the  means 
of  communication  with  San  Francisco  and  the 
diggings  were  very  uncertain.  I  suppose  his 
letters  miscarried." 

"But  tell  me  about  him.  Has  his  health 
been  good  ?  " 

"  Very  good ;    and    he    has   been   remarkably 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  301 

lucky.  Folks  say  he  has  made  over  a  hundred 
thousand  dollars  digging  and  trading." 

44  Indeed  !     I  am  so  glad !  " 

44 1  suppose  you  don't  remember  me,  do  you?" 
asked  the  stranger. 

The  widow  looked  at  him  sharply. 

44  You  have  got  such  a  sight  of  hair  on  your 
face,  that  I  declare  I  do  not,"  said  the  widow, 
laughing. 

44 You  don't?" 

The  gentleman  spoke  these  words  in  a  differ 
ent  tone  of  voice  —  so  different  that  the  widow 
started  back  in  astonishment. 

44  Have  I  altered  so  much,  mother  ?  " 

44  George  !  O  George  !  "  exclaimed  the  widow, 
as  she  folded  her  lost  son  in  her  arms. 

They  both  wept  in  each  other's  embrace. 

44  Heaven  be  praised,  you  have  returned !  " 
cried  the  widow. 

44 And  my  father  is  dead?"  said  George  Wes« 
ton  sadly. 


302  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  Yes,  George,  you  have  no  father  now." 

The  young  man  trembled  with  emotion. 

"I  had  hoped  to  smooth  the  last  years  of  his 
life ;  but  God's  will  be  done." 

"  Amen !  "  said  the  widow  solemnly,  as  she 
wiped  her  eyes. 

"  Tony,  my  brother,  come  here,"  said  George, 
as  he  shook  the  hand  of  the  little  hero.  "You 
cannot  think  how  badly  I  felt  this  morning, 
when,  on  my  arrival  at  Rippleton,  I  heard  that 
you  were  to  be  tried  for  stealing.  If  it  had 
not  been  for  our  mother,  I  think  I  should  have 
fled  from  the  place  without  making  myself 
known." 

"  But,  George,  I  was  innocent." 

"I  know  it,  Tony;  and  I  was  the  happiest 
man  in  the  court-house  when  I  heard  that  Joe 
Braman  confess  the  truth." 

"And,  George,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Weston, 
"you  must  join  with  me  in  thanking  Captain 
Sedley  here  for  all  he  has  done  for  poor  Tony. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  303 

I  am  sure,  if  it  had  not  been  for  him,  he  would 
have  been  found  guilty." 

George  Weston  took  the  hand  of  Captain 
Sedley,  and  in  fit  terms  expressed  his  grati 
tude. 

"And  we  have  to  thank  him  for  a  thousand 
other  favors  since  your  poor  father's  death.  I 
don't  know  what  would  have  become  of  us 
without  him." 

George  renewed  his  thanks,  and  called  down 
the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  the  benefactor  of  his 
mother. 

"Come,  boys,  we  had  better  go,"  said  Cap 
tain  Sedley. 

The  boat  club  withdrew,  with  the  exception 
of  Tony. 

"Mrs.  Weston,  I  shall  be  happy  to  see  you 
and  all  your  family  at  my  house  at  tea  this 
evening,"  continued  Captain  Sedley. 

"Thank  you,  sir;  we  shall  certainly  come," 
replied  the  widow. 


304  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OJ?, 

"And,  Captain  Sedley,  my  mother  shall  soon 
have  a  house  to  which  she  can  invite  her 
friends,"  said  George  Weston,  with  a  smile. 

The  little  front  room  of  the  widow  Weston's 
cottage  was  the  scene  of  a  joyful  reunion  on 
that  eventful  day.  George  related  his  adven 
tures  to  his  mother,  and  shed  many  a  tear  when 
he  heard  her  tell  of  the  trials  through  which 
she  had  passed  during  his  absence.  The  future 
was  still  open  to  him,  and  he  determined  to 
fill  it  with  joys  for  her  which  should  in  some 
measure  compensate  her  for  the  sorrow  and 
suffering  of  the  past;  for  George  regarded  pov 
erty  and  want  as  misery,  and  did  not  see  how 
his  mother  could  have  been  contented,  as  she 
professed  to  have  been. 

After  dinner  the  site  for  a  new  house  was 
selected,  plans  were  matured  for  sending  Mary 
to  the  Rippleton  Academy,  and  Tony  was  to 
be  kept  at  the  grammar  school  till  he  was  qual 
ified  for  the  high  school. 


THE  BUNKEES  OF  EIPPLETON  305 

About  four  o'clock,  when  all  these  things  had 
been  fully  discussed,  George  and  Tony  walked 
down  to  the  banks  of  the  lake. 

"There  comes  the  Zephyr,"  said  the  latter. 
"We  have  fine  times  in  her,  George,  I  can  tell 
you." 

"Whose  boat  is  she?" 

"Frank  Sedley's;   his  father  gave  it  to  him.** 

"You  must  have  one,  Tony." 

"Me!" 

"  Yes ;  I  am  able  to  give  you  one,  and  when 
I  go  to  the  city  I  will  order  one  built." 

"  How  liberal  you  are,  George !  " 

"You  are  a  good  boy,  Tony;  and  a  good 
boy  deserves  everything  it  is  proper  for  him  to 
have." 

"But  we  don't  need  another.  We  have  just 
as  good  times  in  the  Zephyr  as  though  each 
owned  a  share  in  her.  There  is  nothing  mean 
about  Frank  Sedley,  I  can  tell  you  I  "  said  Tony, 
with  enthusiasm. 


306  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

"  He  seems  to  be  a  very  fine  little  fellow,* 
added  George. 

"That  he  is;  why,  only  last  Fourth  of  July 
he  gave  mother  all  the  money  he  had  saved  for 
the  occasion,  instead  of  spending  it.  What  do 
you  say  to  that?" 

"  That  was  noble.  My  poor  mother !  Was 
she  indeed  reduced  to  such  extremity  as  that?" 

"  She  didn't  want  it ;  but  he  would  give  it 
to  her,  and  she  bought  new  dresses  for  herself 
and  Mary  with  it." 

"It  was  very  generous,  and  he  shall  lose 
nothing  by  it." 

"Charley  Hardy  did  the  same,  and  both  of 
them  staid  at  home  on  the  Fourth." 

"They  shall  be  rewarded.  But  the  new  boat, 
Tony?" 

"I  don't  think  we  need  another." 

"If  you  had  another,  you  could  race  a  little, 
and  manoeuvre  together." 

"That  would  be  nice,  wouldn't  it?" 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  307 

"I  will  speak  with  Captain  Sedley  about  it. 
Here  comes  the  boat,"  added  George  Weston. 

"  We  have  come  to  row  you  up  to  my 
father's,"  said  the  coxswain. 

"Thank  you,  Frank,"  replied  George.  "We 
shall  be  very  happy  to  accompany  you." 

Mrs.  Weston  and  Mary  were  all  ready,  and 
the  party  seated  themselves  in  the  stern-sheets 
of  the  Zephyr.  On  their  way  down  the  lake, 
the  scheme  of  having  another  club-boat  was  dis 
cussed  and  fully  matured. 

"What  will  you  call  her,  Tony?"  asked 
Charles. 

"I  don't  know,"  said  Tony,  musing.  "What 
do  you  think  of  the  Butterfly?" 

"  Capital !  "  exclaimed  George. 

The  matter  was  all  arranged;  and  the  party 
soon  reached  the  boat-house,  and  spent  a  pleas 
ant  evening  in  the  hospitable  mansion  of  Captain 
Sedley. 


308  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXI 

THE  CONCLUSION 

THE  first  two  weeks  of  the  organization  of 
the  boat  club  passed  away,  and  the  members 
were  assembled  in  Zephyr  Hall  to  elect  a  cox 
swain.  According  to  the  constitution,  Frank's 
term  of  office  had  expired. 

"Whom  do  you  intend  to  vote  for,  Fred?" 
asked  Charles  Hardy,  who  appeared  to  be  very 
anxious  about  the  election. 

"  I  don't  know ;  I  havent  decided  yet,"  replied 
Fred  Harper.  "You  know  what  Captain  Sedley 
said  the  other  day  about  it." 

"Yes;  but  if  I  have  got  to  vote,  I  want  to 
get  my  mind  made  up.  I  don't  see  what  harm 
there  can  be  in  talking  about  it  a  little." 

"  He  said  he  did  not  want  any  electioneering 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  309 

about  the  officers  — <  log-rolling,'  my  father  calls 
it." 

"Of  course  not,"  replied  Charles  demurely. 

"  The  best  fellow  ought  to  get  the  office," 
said  Fred  slyly. 

"  Of  course,  but  who  is  the  best  fellow  ? 
That's  the  question.  We  ought  to  talk  it  over 
among  ourselves  a  little,"  added  Charles. 

"What  good  would  that  do?" 

"Each  fellow  would  know  whom  the  others 
were  going  to  vote  for." 

"That  would  not  help  him  to  ascertain  who 
would  make  the  best  coxswain,"  Fred  insisted. 

"  But  it  would  help  towards  making  a  choice." 

"There  will  be  a  choice  fast  enough." 

"  I  don't  believe  it.  If  there  is  no  nomination, 
and  no  understanding  about  the  matter  before 
hand,  every  fellow  will  vote  for  a  different  person. 
You  see  if  there  are  not  a  dozen  different  ones 
voted  for,"  protested  Charles. 

"We  can  try  it  over  again,  then,"  said  Fred. 


810  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

"  I  shall  vote  for  you,  and  perhaps  you  will 
vote  for  me." 

"Perhaps  I  shall." 

"And  that  is  the  way  it  will  be  all  through 
the  club." 

"Charley,  what  do  you  say  to  giving  Frank 
a  re-election?"  said  Fred,  with  sudden  energy, 
while  the  mischief  seemed  to  beam  from  his 
eyes. 

"  Well,  I  don't  know,"  replied  Charles,  look 
ing  intently  at  the  floor. 

"Frank  has  made  a  good  coxswain;  there 
is  no  rubbing  that  out." 

"Very  good,"  said  Charles  feebly. 

"If  it  hadn't  been  for  him,  Tim  Bunker 
would  have  been  drowned  that  time." 

"Couldn't  another  fellow  have  done  the  same 
that  he  did?" 

"Yes,  if  he  had  had  the  presence  of  mind 
and  the  energy  of  character  which  Frank  has." 

"  You  could  have  done  it,  Fred,"  said  Charles. 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  RIPPLETON  311 

"I  don't  know  about  that,"  replied  Fred 
modestly. 

"You  hauled  him  in  with  the  boat-hook." 

"Yes,  but  I  only  did  what  Frank  told  me 
to  do.  Look  at  the  Bunkers ;  they  didn't  even 
reach  the  spot  till  we  had  got  him  on  board 
the  Zephyr." 

"  I  should  not  have  been  afraid  but  that  I 
could  have  managed  the  boat  as  well  as  Frank 
did,"  replied  Charles,  more  boldly. 

"I  don't  know  but  you  could,  Charley,"  an 
swered  Fred;  "but  I  doubt  it." 

"I  am  pretty  sure  I  could." 

"  Perhaps  you  will  be  elected  the  next  cox 
swain,  Charley,"  continued  Fred;  and  there  was 
a  slight  twinkle  in  his  mischievous  eye. 

"  No !   Oh,  no !  I'm  sure  /  don't  want  to   be 


coxswain." 


"You  don't!" 

"No;  I  never  thought  of  such  a  thing." 

"Didn't?" 


312  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OB, 

"  I'm  sure  I  never  did." 

"Then  I  will  tell  the  fellows,  so  that  they 
needn't  throw  their  votes  away  upon  you,"  said 
Fred  roguishly. 

"Well,  as  to  that,  of  course  I  should  serve 
if  chosen.  I  want  to  do  just  what  the  fellows 
want  to  have  me  do." 

44  They  don't  want  you  to  be  coxswain  if 
you  don't  wish  to  be,  because  there  are  enough 
of  them  who  do  desire  the  office." 

"  Well,  I  don't  exactly  want  it,  but "  — 

Charles  suddenly  paused. 

"But  what,  Charley?" 

"I  want  the  club  should  have  the  best  offi 
cer  we  can  get." 

Fred  laughed  heartily. 

"I  want  the  office,  Charley;  I  should  like  it 
first-rate,"  continued  he;  "but  I  don't  expect 
to  get  it,  and  am  perfectly  willing  to  abide  the 
decision  of  the  club.  Majority  rules." 

"  Order,"  said  Frank,  rapping  on  the  table. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  EIPPLETON  313 

The  boys  all  took  their  chairs ;  and  Frank 
stated  the  business  of  the  meeting,  which  was 
to  elect  a  coxswain  for  the  next  two  weeks. 

"Our  Director  will  be  with  us  in  a  moment," 
continued  he,  "and  has  something  to  say  be 
fore  we  proceed  with  the  election." 

"Here  he  comes,"  said  Fred. 

"Mr.  Chairman,  and  members  of  the  Zephyr 
Boat  Club,"  began  Captain  Sedley,  with  a  smile 
on  his  benevolent  features,  "you  remember  I 
cautioned  you  a  week  ago  not  to  talk  about  this 
election.  I  presume  you  have  observed  my  re 
quest.  I  had  strong  reasons  for  doing  so.  In 
the  first  place,  I  do  not  wish  to  have  any  un 
pleasant  feelings  excited  by  these  elections ;  and, 
in  the  second  place,  I  wish  you  to  learn  the 
first  duty  of  a  republican  citizen  —  to  cast  an 
independent  vote.  Among  boys,  as  among  men, 
there  is  often  one  who  wields  an  influence  over 
others  —  an  influence  which  is  not  always  di 
rected  by  truth  and  justice.  One,  by  his  mental 


314  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OH, 

power  or  social  position,  controls  others.  They 
follow  his  example  without  always  inquiring 
whether  it  is  good  or  bad.  I  want  you  to  think 
for  yourselves;  to  make  up  your  minds,  with 
out  any  assistance  from  others,  in  regard  to  the 
fitness  of  the  person  for  whom  you  vote.  I  de 
sire  each  of  you  to  deposit  his  ballot  in  the  box, 
without  communication  with  others  —  without 
telling  them,  or  letting  them  know  by  any 
means,  for  whom  you  vote.  Now  the  box  is 
ready,  and  you  may  separate  to  prepare  your 
votes.  The  poll  shall  be  kept  open  ten  min 
utes." 

Some  of  the  boys  went  out  into  the  boat- 
room,  and  others  out  of  doors.  They  were  all 
very  particular  to  comply  to  the  letter  with  Cap 
tain  Sedley's  request.  The  ballot-box  was  kept 
closed,  so  that  no  one  could  read  the  names 
on  the  votes,  and  only  opened  enough  to  admit 
the  slip  of  paper. 

Before  ten  minutes  had  expired  the  members 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  315 

were  all  in  their  seats.  There  was  a  great  deal 
of  interest  manifested  in  the  result;  and  not  a 
little  anxiety  was  visible  in  the  expression  of 
several  faces  —  that  of  Charles  Hardy  in  par 
ticular. 

"Have  you  all  voted?"  said  Frank.  "I  de 
clare  the  poll  closed." 

"I  will  count  the  votes,"  interposed  Captain 
Sedley,  «  so  as  to  give  you  all  the  benefit  of  the 
excitement." 

Taking  the  box  in  his  hand,  he  went  out  into 
the  boat-room. 

"Who  do  you  think  has  got  it?"  whispered 
Charles  to  Fred  Harper. 

"  I  have  no  idea ;  I  only  know  whom  I  voted 
for." 

"Whom?"  asked  Charles. 

"  What  would  you  give  to  know  ?  " 

"Yourself?" 

"  Indeed  I  did  not ! "  replied  Fred  indig 
nantly. 


316  THE  BOAT  CLUB  ;    OR, 

"There  would  be  no  harm  in  it  if  you  did, 
would  there?"  inquired  Charles. 

"No  harm?  It  would  only  amount  to  saying, 
'I  am  the  best  fellow  in  the  club.'" 

"No,  not  that;  it  would  only  be  saying  that 
you  wanted  the  office." 

"Rather  more  than  that." 

"But  you  said  you  did  want  it." 

"I  didn't  vote  for  myself,  anyhow.  But  here 
comes  Captain  Sedley.  Hush !  " 

"Here  is  the  result,  Frank,"  said  the  Director, 
handing  him  the  ballots  and  a  little  slip  of  paper 
on  which  he  had  written  the  names  and  number 
of  votes.  "Read  it." 

There  was  a  breathless  silence  when  Frank 
rose,  and  every  member  exhibited  the  deepest 
interest  in  the  proceedings. 

"Whole  number  of  votes,  thirteen,"  the  cox 
swain  read  from  the  paper.  "Necessary  for  a 
choice,  seven.  Charles  Hardy  has  one  ;  Frederic 
Harper  has  one ;  and  Anthony  Weston  has 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETON  317 

eleven,  and  is  elected  coxswain  of  the  club  for 
the  ensuing  two  weeks." 

"  Three  cheers  for  Tony  Weston !  "  shouted 
Fred  Harper,  rising.  "  One." 

The  cheers  were  given  with  hearty  good-will 
and  emphasis. 

"Mr.  Chairman,"  said  Charles,  "I  move  we 
make  the  vote  unanimous." 

Charles  had  been  reading  the  proceedings  of 
a  political  nominating  convention,  where  they 
make  the  nomination  unanimous  so  as  to  show 
the  unity  of  the  party ;  and  his  ideas  were 
rather  confused. 

"  Those  in  favor  of  Anthony  Weston  for  cox 
swain  the  next  two  weeks  say  '  Ay,' "  continued 
Frank. 

"Ay!" 

44  It  is  a  unanimous  vote.  Tony,  I  am  happy 
to  vacate  my  chair  for  you,  and  I  feel  that  it 
could  not  be  filled  by  a  more  worthy  member," 
said  Frank,  leaving  his  armchair. 


318  TEE  BOAT  CLUB;    OB, 

"But,  Mr.  Chairman,  I  am  clerk.  I  am  very 
much  obliged  to  the  club  for  the  honor,"  said 
Tony,  blushing  up  to  the  eyes. 

44  You  are  coxswain,  Tony,  and  the  clerkship 
is  vacant,"  added  Captain  Sedley.  "The  mem 
bers  of  the  club,  without  consultation  with  each 
other,  have  elected  you  —  the  most  convincing 
evidence  they  could  possibly  give  of  the  high 
esteem  in  which  they  hold  you." 

After  some  persuasion,  Tony  took  the  chair, 
and  Fred  Harper  was  elected  clerk.  Frank  took 
Tony's  number,  and  the  bow  oar  was  appro 
priated  to  him. 

The  business  being  finished,  the  club  proceeded 
to  the  boat-room,  to  prepare  for  their  first  excur 
sion  under  the  new  coxswain.  After  the  meeting 
adjourned,  there  was  considerable  inquiry  for 
the  member  who  had  voted  for  Charles  Hardy; 
but  he  could  not  be  found.  Tony  had  voted 
for  Fred  Harper,  and  the  conclusion  that  Charles 
had  voted  for  himself  was  irresistible. 


THE  BUNKERS  OF  RIPPLETOb  319 

But  Charles,  in  spite  of  his  hypocritical  char 
acter,  was  a  well-meaning  boy.  His  desire  to 
appear  well,  and  to  be  "first  and  foremost," 
sometimes  led  him  astray;  and  the  discipline  of 
the  club  finally  worked  a  "great  improvement 
in  him."  He  was  not  elected  coxswain  that 
year;  for,  on  the  first  of  November,  the  Zephyr 
was  laid  up  for  the  winter.  Fred  Harper  was 
elected  after  Tony,  who  served  his  term  with 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  discipline  of  the 
club. 

The  Butterfly  was  not  completed  in  season  to 
be  launched  that  year ;  but  the  following  spring 
a  second  club  was  formed,  and  Tony  was 
the  first  coxswain.  During  the  winter  the 
Zephyrs  met  regularly  at  their  hall  for  mutual 
improvement.  At  the  suggestion  of  Fred  Har-. 
per,  a  debating  society  was  formed;  and  the 
members  derived  a  great  deal  of  pleasure,  and 
obtained  an  excellent  mental  discipline,  from 
their  discussions. 


320  THE  BOAT  CLUB;    OR, 

To  add  to  the  interest  of  their  meetings, 
George  Weston  gave  them  a  number  of  familiar 
lectures  on  "  California ;  "  Captain  Sedley  on 
"  Life  on  the  Ocean ;  "  and  Mr.  Hyde,  the 
schoolmaster,  on  "  Natural  Philosophy  and  Chem 
istry."  The  boys  declared  they  never  enjoyed 
a  winter  so  much;  and  certainly  they  derived 
a  great  deal  of  useful  information  from  these 
pleasant  meetings. 

Tim  Bunker  and  Joe  Braman  were  tried  at 
the  next  session  of  the  court,  —  the  former  for 
stealing,  and  the  latter  for  receiving  stolen  prop 
erty,  —  and  sentenced  to  the  House  of  Correction. 

George  Weston's  new  house  was  completed 
before  winter,  and  the  family  were  nicely  settled 
before  the  first  snow  came.  The  widow  Weston 
was  happy  all  day  long  in  the  presence  of  her 
children,  and  never  ceased  to  thank  God  for  all 
the  blessings  with  which  her  life  had  been 
crowned,  —  the  blessings  of  adversity  as  well  as 
those  of  prosperity 


THE  BUNKERS   OF  EIPPLETON  321 

.  The  following  spring  the  Butterfly  was 
launched,  the  new  club  organized,  and  the 
sports  of  the  season  opened  with  a  grand  May 
day  picnic  and  dance  on  Centre  Island.  But 
I  have  not  space  to  tell  my  young  readers  how 
Mary  Weston  was  made  Queen  of  May,  how 
the  Zephyr  and  the  Butterfly  raced  up  and  down 
the  lake,  and  how  the  latter  got  beaten  on  ac 
count  of  the  inexperience  of  her  crew.  I  have 
told  my  story;  and  I  leave  the  boat  club,  and 
all  the  characters,  contented  and  happy  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  many  blessings  that  were 
showered  upon  them. 

What  occurred  the  next  season,  when  the 
Butterfly  took  part  in  the  sports  on  Wood 
Lake,  is  fully  related  in  the  sequel  to  "The 
Boat  Club,"  called  "  ALL,  ABOARD  ;  OR,  LIFE 
ON  THE  LAKE." 


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A  Final  Reckoning 

A  Tale  of  Bush  Life  in  Australia 
By  England's  Aid 

The  Freeing  of  the  Netherlands 
By  Right  of  Conquest 

A  Tale  of  Cortez  in  Mexico 
Bravest  of  the  Brave 

A  Tale  of  Peterborough  in  Spain 
By  Pike  and  Dyke 

The  Rise  of  the  Dutch  Republic 
By  Sheer  Pluck 

A  Tale  of  the  Ashantee  War 
Bonnie  Prince  Charlie 

A  Tale  of  Fontenoy  and  Culloden 
Captain  Bayley's  Heir 

A  Tale  of  the  Gold  Fields  of  California 
Cat  of  Bubastes 

A  Story  of  Ancient  Egypt 
Cornet  cf  Horse 

A  Tale  of  Marlborough's  Wars 
Facing  Death 

A  Tale  of  the  Coal  Mines 
Friends,  though  Divided 

A  Tale  of  the  Civil  War  in  England 
For  Name  and  Fame 

A  Tale  of  Afghan  Warfare 
For  the  Temple 

A  Tale  of  the  Fall  of  Jerusalem 
In  Freedom's  Cause 

A  Story  of  Wallace  and  Bruce 
In  the  Reign  of  Terror 

The  Adventures  of  a  Wastminster  Boy 

In  Times  of  Peril         A  Tale  of  India 

Jack  Archer          A  Tale  of  the  Crimea 

Lion  of  St.  Mark 

A  Talfiof  Venice  in  the  XIV.  Century 


Lion  of  the  North 

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Maori  and  Settler 

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One  of  the  28th 

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Out  on  the  Pampas 

A  Tale  of  South  America 
St.  George  for  England 

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True  to  the  Old  Flag 

A  Tale  of  the  Revolution 
The  Young  Colonists 

A  Tale  of  the  Zulu  and  Boer  Wars 
The  Dragon  and  the  Raven 

A  Tale  of  King  Alfred 
The  Boy  Knight 

A  Tale  of  the  Crusades 
Through  the  Fray 

A  Story  of  the  Luddite  Riott 
Under  Drake's  Flag 

A  Tale  of  the  Spanish  Main 
With  Wolfe  in  Canada 

The  Tale  of  Winning  a  Continent 
With  Clive  in  India 

The  Beginning  of  an  Empire 
With  Lee  in  Virginia 

A  Story  of  the  American  Civil  War 
Young  Carthaginian 

A  Story  of  the  Times  of  Hannibal 
Young  Buglers 

A  Tale  of  the  Peninsular  War 
Young  Franc-Tireurs 

A  Tale  of  the  Franco-Prussian  Wai 


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FLAG  OF  FREEDOM   SERIES 

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THE  YOUNG  BANDMASTER;  or,  Concert  Stage  and  Battlefield 

In  this  tale  Captain  Bonehill  touches  upon  a  new  field.  The  hero  is  a 
youth  with  a  passion  for  music,  who,  compelled  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world,  becomes  a  cornetist  in  an  orchestra  and  works  his  way  up, 
first  to  the  position  of  a  soloist,  and  then  to  that  of  leader  of  a  brass 
band.  .  He  is  carried  off  to  sea  and  falls  in  with  a  secret-service  cutter 
bound  for  Cuba,  and  while  in  that  island  joins  a  military  band  which 
accompanied  our  soldiers  in  the  never-to-be-forgotten  attack  on  Santiago. 
A  mystery  connected  with  the  hero's  inheritance  adds  to  the  interest  of 
the  tale. 

OFF  FOR    HAWAII;    or,    The    Mystery    of   a   Great    Volcano 

Here  we  have  fact  and  romance  cleverly  interwoven.  Several  boys  start 
on  a  tour  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands.  They  have  heard  that  there  is  a  treasure 
located  in  the  vicinity  of  Kilauea,  the  largest  active  volcano  in  the  world, 
and  go  in  search  of  it.  Their  numerous  adventures  will  be  followed  with 
much  interest. 

A  SAILOR  BOY  WITH  DEWEY;  or,  Afloat  in  the  Philippines 

The  story  of  Dewey's  victory  in  Manila  Bay  will  never  grow  old,  but  here 
we  have  it  told  in  a  new  form — not  as  those  in  command  witnessed  the 
contest,  but  as  it  appeared  to  a  real,  live  American  youth  who  was  in  the 
navy  at  the  time.  Many  adventures  in  Manila  and  in  the  interior  follow, 
giving  true-to-life  scenes  from  this  remote  portion  of  the  globe.  A  book 
that  should  be  in  every  boy's  library. 

WHEN  SANTIAGO  FELL ;  or,  The  War  Adventures  of  Two  Chums 

Captain  Bonehill  has  never  penned  a  better  tale  than  this  stirring  story  of 
adventures  in  Cuba.  Two  boys,  an  American  and  his  Cuban  chum,  leave 
Ne\v  York  to  join  their  parents  in  the  interior  of  Cuba.  The  war  between 
Spain  and  the  Cubans  is  on,  and  the  boys  are  detained  at  Santiago  de  Cuba, 
but  escape  by  crossing  the  bay  at  night.  Many  adventures  between  the 
lines  follow,  and  a  good  pen-picture  of  General  Garcia  is  given.  The 
American  lad,  with  others,  is  captured  and  cast  into  a  dungeon  in  Santiago  ; 
and  then  follows  the  never-to-be-forgotten  campaign  in  Cuba  under 
General  Shafter.  How  the  hero  finally  escapes  makes  reading  no  wide 
awake  boy  will  want  to  miss. 

PRESS  OPINIONS  OF  CAPTAIN  BONEHILL'S  BOOKS  FOR  BOYS 

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that  they  are  thoroughly  up-to-date  and  true  to  life.  As  a  writer  of  outdoor  tales 
he  has  no  rival." — Bright  Days, 

"  The  story  is  by  Captain  Ralph  Bonehill,  and  that  is  all  that  need  be  said  about  it, 
for  all  of  our  readers  know  that  the  captain  is  one  of  America's  best  story-tellers,  so 
far  as  stories  for  young  people  go." — Young  People  of  America. 

"  We  understand  that  Captain  Bonehill  will  soon  be  turning  from  sporting  stones 
to  tales  of  the  war.  This  field  is  one  in  which  he  should  feel  thoroughly  at  home. 
We  are  certain  that  the  boys  will  look  eagerly  for  the  Bonehill  war  talcs." — Weekly 
Messenger. 

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FAMOUS  BOOKS 
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Meade,  whose  copyright  works  can 
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THE  FOLLOWING 

The  Children  of  Wilton  Chase 
Bashful  Fifteen 

Betty:  A  Schoolgirl 
Four  on  an  Island 
Girls  New  and  Old 

Out  of  the  Fashion 
The  Palace  Beautiful 
Polly,  a  New-Fashioned  Girl 
Red  Rose  and  Tiger  Lily 
Temptation  of  Olive  Latimer 


ARE  THE  TITLES 

A  Ring  of  Rubies 
A  Sweet  Girl  Graduate 

A  World  of  Girls 
Good  Luck 
A  Girl  in  Ten  Thousand 

A  Young  Mutineer 
Wild  Kitty 

The  Children's  Pilgrimage 
The  Girls  of  St.  Wode's 
Light  o'  the  Morning 


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Tad;  or,  "Getting  Even"  with  Him 

Lost  in  Samoa 

Red  Plume  Lost  in  the  Wilds 

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Land  of  Wonders 

Through  Jungle  and  Wilderness 
Life  of  Kit  Carson 


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"A  good  dictionary  is  the  first  requisite  in  the  study  of  a  language " 


THE  NEW  PRACTICAL 

French-English  and  English-French 
DICTIONARY 

Compiled  from  the  best  Authorities  of  Both  Languages 

BY 

Professors  DE  LOLME  and  WALLACE 

HENRY  BRIDGEMAN 

Revised,  Corrected,  and  Considerably  Enlarged 

Professor  E.  ROUBAUD,  B.  A.  (Paris) 


This  excellent  dictionary,  prepared  for  practical  use  by  highly 
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